T 


c 

AMERKM&TT 


C 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


THE  GAIT 

OF  THE  AMERICAN 

TROTTER  AND  PACER 

AN  ANALYSIS  OF  THEIR  GAIT  BY 
A  NEW  METHOD 


AND 


AN   INVESTIGATION   OF  THE   GENERAL   PRINCIPLES 
CONCERNING  THE  PROPER  BALANCING  OF 

MOTION  ACTION  AND  EXTENSION 


BY 


RUDOLF  JORDAN,  JR. 


NEW  YORK 
WILLIAM  R.  JENKINS  CO. 

PUBLISHERS 
851-853  SIXTH  AVENUE 


COPYRIGHT,  1910 

BY  WILLIAM  R.  JENKINS  Co. 

[All  Rights  Reserved] 


PRINTED  BY  THE 

PRESS  OF  WILLIAM  R.  JENKINS  Co. 
NEW  YORK 


o 


THIS  -BOOK  IS  DEDICATED  TO  THE  CAUSE  OF  THE  HUMANE 
TREATMENT  AND  RATIONAL  CARE  OF  THE  HORSE,  WITH- 
OUT WHOSE  DRUDGERY  AND  CONSTANT  TOIL  THE  PRO- 
GRESS OF  THE  WORLD  WOULD  HAVE  BEEN  MATERIALLY 
RETARDED,  AND  THE  COMFORTS  AND  PLEASURES  OF  OUR 
DAILY  LIFE  WOULD  BE  FAR  LESS  IN  DEGREE  AND  EXTENT 


M358912 


PREFACE 


Every  owner  and  every  trainer  of  a  trotter  or  pacer,  in  fact,  every 
one  to  whom  the  horse  in  general  is  a  source  of  revenue  or  of  pleasure, 
should  make  himself  familiar  with  the  simple  principles  of  the  animal's 
locomotion,  and  with  the  rational  system  of  shoeing,  as  presented  and 
advocated  by  the  late  David  Roberge,  in  his  book  "The  Foot  of  the 
Horse."  Though  given  to  the  public  over  ten  years  ago,  it  is  doubtful 
whether  its  real  worth  has  been  generally  appreciated  and  estimated. 

The  late  David  Roberge  of  New  York  seems  to  have  been  one  of 
the  few  intelligent  horseshoers  who  combine  the  science  with  the  art 
of  their  trade.  He  came  to  the  rescue  of  the  suffering  equine  world 
with  a  logical  and  simple  method.  His  connections  with  Robert  Bonner 
gave  him  the  advantage  of  the  views  of  that  great  student  of  the  horse's 
locomotion,  to  whose  persuasion  is  due  the  publication  of  that  book. 
Their  experiences  and  deductions  were  identical  and  constitute  the 
most  rational  views  and  data  on  this  subject. 

In  a  personal  correspondence  with  the  writer  he  regretted  that  iH 
health  had  prevented  him  from  supplementing  his  work  with  another 
on  the  special  subject  of  balancing  the  gait  of  the  fast  trotter  and 
pacer,  because  he  felt  the  need  of  just  such  a  treatise.  As  it  is  he  took 
up  the  cause  of  the  horse  in  general,  thereby  appealing  to  every  owner 
who  wishes  to  use  the  horse  to  the  best  possible  advantage.  All  the 
greater  in  consequence  becomes  the  merit  of  his  work. 

The  writer  is  grateful  to  him  for  valuable  suggestions,  and  has 
for  many  years  put  into  practice  his  system  of  shoeing.  This  effort  .to 
prove  and  to  apply  his  teachings  have  led  to  a  systematic  analysis  of 
gait  by  means  of  measurements  and  by  averages  and  variations,  so  as 
to  plot  the  peculiarities  of  each  horse's  mode  of  locomotion.  The  out- 
come is  a  sytsem  which,  though  based  on  Roberge's  investigations,  is 
itself  original  in  conception.  It  is  offered  in  the  hope  that  it  will  assist 
many  owners  and  trainers  of  our  fast  trotters  and  pacers  in  solving  the 


vi  Preface 

intricate  problem  of  balancing  or  adjusting  the  motion,  extension  and 
action  of  the  horse  at  speed. 

The  laws  of  "pointing",  or  the  horse's  movement  of  the  foot  in  the 
lines  of  least  inconvenience  or  pain,  as  laid  down  by  Roberge,  form  a 
very  simple  and  rational  foundation  for  paring  the  hoof  and  putting 
on  the  shoe.  Much  thought  has  already  been  given  to  this  subject  of 
balancing  and  gaiting,  but  as  yet  little  has  been  done  or  shown  by  any 
methodical  investigation. 

Granting  that  much  knowledge  of  ,gait  may  be  gathered  by  sight, 
sound  and  sensation,  in  other  words,  by  watching  the  action  from  all 
points  of  the  compass  and  by  listening  to  the  fall  of  the  feet,  as  well 
as  by  feeling  the  mouth  while  speeding,  all  proper  balancing  under  such 
observation  will  nevertheless  remain  more  or  less  guess-work.  It  will 
always  be  tedious  experimenting  for  lack  of  definite  data ;  and  even 
when  success  crowns  the  countless  efforts  and  there  is  a  happy  combi- 
nation of  adjustment,  it  is  apt  to  be  momentary  and  will  give  no  rule 
for  a  repetition  of  the  same  conditions.  Unless  some  more  precise  and 
exact  method  can  be  devised,  there  will  be  no  record  left  behind,  and 
we  shall  not  possess  any  definite  knowledge.  Such  guess-work  and 
repeated  haphazard  trials,  even  when  successful  for  a  time,  give  no 
rational  explanation  of  previous  conditions  or  of  the  effect  of  any 
changes,  or  of  the  final  results. 

What  is  wanted  is  some  plan  or  method  by  which  any  fault  in  the 
action  or  extension  can  be  readily  discovered  and  one's  whole  energy 
can  be  employed  from  the  very  start  toward  a  possible  correction  of 
such  deficiency. 

Let  us  not  gamble  with  Luck,  cautions  the  Sage  of  Concord,  but 
deal  directly  with  Cause  and  Effect.  Even  then  chances  may  be  against 
us,  but  we  at  least  deal  with  the  subject  in  a  logical  and  not  in  an  ir- 
rational manner. 

It  is  not  claimed  by  the  writer  that  any  horse,  or  all  of  them,  can 
be  made  to  move  squarely  and  fast  by  such  a  method,  but  merely  that 
the  faulty  action  can  be  more  readily  detected.  It  will  be  shown  that 
there  is  at  least  a  rational  plan  for  the  discovery,  if  not  for  the  removal, 
of  the  cause  of  faulty  or  deficient  action.  No  cure-all  is  offered,  nor 


Preface  vii 

is  there  a  wish  to  belittle  the  judgment  of  intelligent  horseshoers; 
for  these  there  will  be  enough  to  do  in  spite  of  all  knowledge  of  faulty 
action. 

Far  from  overestimating  my  knowledge  of  shoeing,  I  beg  to  leave 
the  importance  of  proper  shoes  for  special  needs  to  the  intelligent  men 
at  the  forge,  who  should  understand  the  anatomy  of  the  foot  as  well  as 
they  know  how  to  turn  and  apply  a  sensible  shoe.  There  is  no  patent 
on  this  method.  Anybody  with  a  little  ability  to  figure  and  with  a 
little  accuracy  and  patience  can  work  out  the  necessary  data.  Special 
note  books  for  that  purpose  may  be  had  from  the  author. 

This  book  is  the  result  of  much  time  and  labor,  just  as  other 
duties  would  allow  and  opportunities  offered  themselves ;  but  during  the 
long  years  of  his  investigations,  the  writer  was  always  guided  by  the 
principle  that  authority  and  tradition,  though  good  as  a  basis,  should 
not  be  looked  upon  as  being  free  from  grievous  error.  It  is  a  human 
habit  to  follow  tradition  and  routine  as  the  safest  and  quickest  way  out 
of  difficulties  and  to  yield  to  the  undefinable  attraction  or  mystery  of 
luck.  An  open-minded  inquiry  directed  solely  and  without  prejudice 
towards  the  establishment  of  facts  led  to  the  investigations  here  offered. 
As  reasonable  and  plausible  as  the  assertions  of  Roberge  appeared  to 
be,  his  theory  of  pointing  lacked  proof  as  regards  animals  in  motion. 
These  assertions  were  likewise  subjected  to  continued  tests  by  this 
method  until  they  were  shown  to  be  either  entirely  true  or  partly  true. 

At  bottom,  however,  of  these  very  facts  there  is  at  all  times  the 
great  beauty  of  animal  motion  in  which  every  lover  of  the  horse  de- 
lights. To  convey  this  to  the  mind,  when  the  eye  cannot  actually  see  it, 
is  the  mission  of  the  true  artist.  I  have,  therefore,  given  as  the  very 
first  illustration,  a  copy  of  a  picture  of  a  three-year-old  colt,  bred  and 
at  one  time  owned  by  me,  which  was  painted  by  our  well-known  artist, 
H.  W.  Hansen.  His  watercolors  of  horses  in  motion  are  everywhere 
recognized  for  their  exquisite  coloring  and  excellent  outline  and  depth. 
The  half-tone  reproduction  does  not  quite  come  up  to  the  original  in 
color  effect,  but  the  expression  and  attitude  of  the  animal  are  worth 
noting. 

Without  the  advice  and  assistance  of  others   I  would  not  now  be 


viii  Preface 

able  to  put  these  investigations  before  the  public,  and  I  therefore,  take 
pleasure  in  acknowledging  my  gratitude  to  all  who  have  aided  me. 

To  my  old  friend,  Dr.  H.  H.  Claussen,  I  am  indebted  for  his 
careful  instruction  regarding  the  anatomy  and  make-up  of  the  horse; 
and  to  J.  P.  Patery,  a  skilful  and  intelligent  horseshoer  of  Oakland,  Cal., 
for  much  practical  advice  and  for  his  very  efficient  services  at  all  times. 
For  the  diligent  and  successful  efforts  in  the  training  and  driving  of 
the  horses  under  observation,  I  am  also  indebted  to  Howard  L.  Franklin, 
of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  K.  O'Grady  and  sons,  of  San  Mateo,  Cal.,  and  to 
C.  B.  Bigelow,  of  Woodland,  Cal. 

Furthermore,  I  take  occasion  to  acknowledge  my  obligation  to 
I.  B.  Dalziel,  T.  W.  Barstow,  O.  V.  Greene,  "The  Horse  Review," 
Ted  Hansom,  and  Schreiber  &  Sons,  and  M.  H.  Reardon,  for  their 
courtesy  extended  regarding  the  use  and  reproduction  of  some  excel- 
lent photographs ;  and  I  also  wish  to  express  my  thanks  to  George  W. 
Ellis  for  his  painstaking  efforts  and  for  his  advice  in  the  matter  of 
illustrations,  and  to  Dwight  L.  Hackett — last  but  not  least — for  his 
suggestions  in  presenting  this  book  to  the  public. 

RUDOLF  JORDAN,  JR. 
2563  Washington  St., 

San  Francisco,  California. 


CONTENTS 


PACK 

PREFACE v 

CHAPTER  I. 

WANTED — A  SQUARE  GAIT i 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE  TRACKS  AND  MOTION  OF  THE  FEET 8 

CHAPTER  III. 
THE  ATTITUDE  AND  MOTION  OF  THE  LEGS        .        .        .  18 

CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  RECORD  OF  THE  TRACKS  ON  THE  GROUND  AND  THE  IM- 
PORTANCE OF  AVERAGES 40 

CHAPTER  V. 
THE  REQUISITES  OF  PERFECT  BALANCE 87 

1.  The  Constant  Shape  of  Hoof 87 

2.  Paring  the  Hoof  to  Counteract  its  Growth  and  Faulty 

Directions 94 

3.  The  Shape  of  Shoes  as  a  Corrective  of  Gait     .         .         .108 

4.  Simplicity  of  Rig  and  the  Need  of  Time  .         .         .         .114 

CHAPTER  VI. 
EXPERIMENTS  AND  THEIR  VERIFICATION 118 

1.  General  Considerations    .         .         .         .         ,         .         .118 

2.  The  Turns  of  the  Track  and  the  General  Directions  of 

the  Feet 125 

3.  Toe-weights 141 

4.  Knee  and  Hock  Action  Regulated  by  Weight  and  Shape 

of  Shoes 165 

A.  Squared  Toes  of  Shoes 193. 

B.  Longer  Heels. on  Hind  Shoes  With  and  Without  Squared 

Toes 211 

CHAPTER  VII. 
THE  ANGLE  AND  LENGTH  OF  FOOT 241 


x  Contents 

PAG5 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  HARMONY  IN  A  GAIT         .        .        ,                .        .  .  262 

1.  The  Prime  Condition  of  an  Easy  and  Regular  Gait  .  262 

2.  Single-footing — An  Alarm  of  a  Disordered  Gait       .  .  266 

CHAPTER  IX. 
DOWNHILL  AND  UPHILL  TRIALS  COMPARED  ....  278 

CHAPTER  X. 
THE  MAIN  FEATURES  OP  MEASUREMENTS  .  .  .  .295 

CHAPTER  XI. 
A  PLEA  FOR  A  USEFUL  TROTTER  AND  CONCLUDING  REMARKS  .  305 


THE  GAIT 

OF  THE  AMERICAN 

TROTTER  AND  PACER 


"  The  epochs  of  our  life  are  not  in  the  visible  facts  of  our  choice 
of  a  calling,  our  marriage,  our  acquisition  of  an  office,  and  the  like, 
but  in  a  silent  thought  by  the  wayside  as  we  walk ;  in  a  thought 
which  revives  our  entire  manner  of  life  and  says :  *  Thus  hast  thou 
done,  but  it  were  better  thus.'  " 

Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  (Spiritual  Laws). 


CHAPTER  I. 


WANTED-A  SQUARE  QAIT. 


One  of  the  most  puzzling  and  intricate  problems  for  the  trainer 
of  the  trotter  or  pacer  to  solve  is  proper  balance.  By  "balance"  is 
meant  such  exact  adjustment  of  hitching  and  checking,  weight  of 
shoes,  as  well  as  length  of  toe  and  its  angle  with  heel,  that  will  bring 
about,  with  the  least  expenditure  of  energy  on  the  part  of  the  horse, 
the  most  regular  and  frictionless,  the  truest  and  freest  action,  and 
therefore  the  greatest  speed  which  such  a  horse  is  capable  of  pro- 
ducing. 

The  great  difficulty  of  controlling  a  horse's  locomotion  lies  not 
only  in  the  complexity  of  a  living  organism,  but  also  more  particu- 
larly in  the  shape  and  the  articulation  of  the  leg  and  the  hoof.  Where, 
however,  the  relations  of  the  mental  and  physical  qualities  of  the  horse 
are  not  such  as  to  suggest  or  establish  the  so-called  trotting  instinct, 
or  the  ability  to  stick  to  the  trotting  (or  pacing)  action,  even  man's 
best  devices  and  efforts  often  fail.  It  may  lie  within  the  possibilities 
of  the  laws  of  heredity  that  by  continual  training  of  successive  genera- 
tions of  the  harness  horse  this  instinct  will  become  more  of  a  fixed  or 
typical  characteristic.  The  ideal  outcome  of  such  hereditary  influ- 
ence would,  therefore,  seem  to  be  a  more  ready  response  to  the  train- 
ing for  speed,  and  may  bring  about  the  disuse  of  all  the  cumbersome 
paraphernalia  for  the  protection  of  the  legs  and  of  the  cruel  and  un- 
natural check-line,  so  that  a  free  action  and  a  free  head  may  become 
the  general  results  of  all  combined  efforts  of  the  breeding  and  training 
of  our  harness  horse. 

Any  sound  and  well  bred  trotter  or  pacer  that  has  not  been  abused 
will  stick  to  a  square  gait  and  will,  true  to  his  instinct,  try  to  do  his 
level  best  until  constrainedly  some  difficulty  of  movement.  In  most 
cases  these  are  mechanical  hindrances,  such  as  ill-shaped  feet,  too 


2  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

heavy  or  too  light  a  shoe,  or  one  of  bad  shape,  or  the  general  discom- 
fort of  the  harness  and  of  the  hitching  to  cart  or  sulky. 

Any  forced  methods,  such  as  whipping,  in  order  to  "straighten  him 
out"  after  irregular  action  or  a  break,  can  hardly  come  under  the  head 
of  training  and  show  lack  of  balance  in  the  man  behind  the  animal 
rather  than  in  the  horse. 

The  secret  of  the  American  trainer's  success  with  the  harness 
horse  lies  in  his  appeal  to  the  animal's  moral  and  mental  qualities. 
Such  a  course  makes  the  horse  reliable  and  on  it  hinges  more  or  less 
the  result  of  a  speed  contest.  To  develop  this  confidence  and  courage 
in  a  horse  proper  balance  is  absolutely  essential.  A  square  gait  alone 
will  conserve  muscle  and  strength,  and  will  increase  endurance.  Be- 
sides, there  is  the  spectator's  point  of  view  to  be  considered,  because 
there  is  nothing  as  impressive  as  a  horse  that  goes  like  a  piece  of  ma- 
chinery, and  the  public  takes  delight  in  the  unswerving  regularity  and 
equalized  energy  of  a  square  gait. 

There  are  trainers  who  seem  to  favor  an  irregular  gait  on  the 
score  that  it  rests  a  horse  and  that  it  makes  him  "catch"  his  gait  more 
readily  after  a  "break"  or  run.  Skipping  behind  or  rolling  in  front 
may  favor  such  a  handy  "catch"  because  no  time  is  lost  in  squaring 
away  again.  It  really  amounts  to  a  questionable  means  "to  get  there", 
but  does  not  constitute  an  honest  effort  such  as  the  spectator  has  a 
right  to  demand.  The  usefulness  of  the  harness  horse  should  not  be 
lost  sight  of,  and  all  training  should  be  directed  toward  bringing  out 
the  best  qualities  and  teaching  the  best  manners.  The  sport  of  speed 
contests — known  also  under  the  questionable  name,  "the  game" — 
should  be  "on  the  square,"  and  it  is  therefore  to  the  interest  of  the 
cause  of  the  harness  horse  that  he  should  be  trained  to  a  square  gait 
only. 

Every  trainer  knows  what  a  square  gait  is.  In  the  course  of  this 
discussion  on  gaits  as  given  in  this  book  it  will  be  shown  that  a  square 
gait  means  nothing  more  nor  less  than  an  even  and  equal  extension 
backward  and  forward  for  all  the  four  moving  legs  of  the  horse,  with 
two  pair  of  feet  striking  the  ground  at  equal  intervals  of  time  and  dis- 
tance during  a  given  trial. 


Wanted — A  Square  Gait  3 

Many  faults  of  gait  can  be  learned  by  studying  the  tracks  of  the 
horse's  hoofs  on  the  ground,  and  I  urge  trainers  in  general,  and 
owners  too,  to  direct  their  attention  to  these  footprints.  For,  from 
the  nature  and  position  of  these  tracks,  they  can  arrive  at  a  remedy  for 
a  faulty  gait  much  more  quickly.  It  is  not  very  hard  work — consider- 
ing the  results — to  rake  off  a  piece  of  ground,  which  has  been  pre- 
viously harrowed  and  is  moist  enough  to  show  the  tracks  plainly.  The 
record  of  the  ,ground  may  serve  to  lead  to  a  better  record  of  the  mile, 
and  the  impressions  on  the  ground  may  help  to  effect  better  impres- 
sions on  the  grand  stand.  To  give  it  meaning  we  must  have  two 
things,  namely,  a  tape  line  and  a  white  cord.  The  latter  is  stretched 
midway  between  the  two  sulky-wheel  tracks  and  figures  as  a  line  of 
reference  for  the  position  of  the  feet;  and  the  100  ft.  tape  line  serves 
in  the  measurements  of  all  the  successive  footprints.  The  middle  line 
is  assumed  as  being  the  line  of  motion  of  the  horse's  center  of  gravity, 
around  which  all  weight  and  motion  is  equally  distributed.  In  a  square 
gait,  therefore,  we  should  have  the  position  of  the  feet  on  either  side 
at  equal  distances  from  this  line  of  reference.  Any  deviation  would 
argue  a  certain  deficiency  or  a  bad  habit  of  the  gait.  Such  a  wrong 
direction  of  motion  may  be  due  to  some  structural  fault  or  to  some 
temporary  impediment  caused  by  faulty  shoeing.  In  either  case  a 
remedy  may  correct  an  irregular  gait.  Much  can  be  learned  merely 
by  an  inspection  of  the  tracks  thus  referred  to  the  middle  line. 
Whether  much  figuring  is  done  or  not,  some  idea  at  least  may  be 
gained  from  the  positions  of  the  feet.  Of  course,  the  presumption  here 
is  that  the  trial  so  made  did  proceed  in  a  straight,  or  nearly  straight, 
line.  The  speed  of  a  horse  is  most  efficient  in  straight  lines. 

An  irregular  position  of  one  or  more  feet  can  be  readily  detected 
and  will  indicate  the  possible  remedy  for  a  better  direction  or  position 
of  same.  If  not  convenient,  the  figuring  on  these  positions,  as  given 
later  on  in  the  fourth  chapter,  may  be  omitted  and  notes  could  be  made 
ttnerely  from  the  inspection  by  eye. 

As  to  the  use  of  the  tape  line,  there  is  need  of  a  little  more  work. 
The  simpler  features  of  such  measurements  are  given  again  in  Chapter 
X.  Suffice  it  to  say  here  that  the  tape  line  should  be  applied  until  we 


4  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

have  either  ten  or  twenty  strides  on  record.  It  is  not  one  individual 
stride  that  will  show  any  deficiency,  but  it  is  rather  the  averages  of  the 
various  distances  between  the  tracks  that  can  give  us  a  truthful  ac- 
count of  a  certain  manner  of  gait. 

First,  there  is  the  stride,  or  the  distance  between  the  two  contacts 
at  the  toe  of  one  and  the  same  foot.  Then  there  is  the  distance  be- 
tween the  two  feet  that  move  together.  This  should  be  the  same  for 
both  sides  in  a  square  gait.  Again,  there  is  the  distance  between  one 
fore  foot  and  the  opposite  one,  or  between  one  hind  and  its  opposite 
mate.  In  a  square  gait  these  also  are  alike  or  nearly  so.  Sometimes 
a  horse  has  a  habit  to  extend  one  foot  ahead  of  the  other,  in  which 
case  the  hind  that  moves  with  that  fore  will  also  extend  ahead  of  its 
mate.  The  distances  thus  measured  will  give  us,  by  means  of  aver- 
ages, a  more  trustworthy  account  of  the  manner  of  propulsion  than 
the  eye  can  possibly  detect. 

The  tape  line  used  should  be  100  ft.  long  and  should  be  divided 
into  10  parts  to  the  foot  instead  of  12  parts.  This  will  facilitate 
figuring.  A  stride  of  15  ft.  and  3  inches,  or  15%  ft..,  will  therefore  ap- 
pear as  15.25  ft.  This  enables  us  to  add,  subtract,  multiply  and 
divide  as  we  do  with  dollars  and  cents,  which  avoids  all  the  trouble 
incident  to  the  figuring  in  inches.  Of  course,  the  tape  line  will  have  to 
be  staked  a  number  of  times  to  include  20  strides.  The  measurements 
should  be  put  down  in  a  continuous  form  in  a  notebook  and  the 
figuring  done  later ;  or  it  may  be  done  on  the  spot  as  the  various  feet 
are  taken.  The  latter  way,  however,  takes  too  long  on  the  ground  and 
is  more  difficult.  In  the  trot  the  start  is  made  from  the  toe  of  near 
fore  foot,  in  the  pace  from  the  toe  of  the  near  hind  foot.  The  toe  is 
the  beginning  and  end  of  each  distance  so  marked.  A  little  systematic 
arrangement  of  the  continuous  measurements  will  soon  bring  the  mat- 
ter clearly  before  one's  mind.  Reference  is  again  made  to  the  tenth 
chapter,  where  a  general  outline  is  given.  The  reader  may  prefer  to 
find  out  for  himself  what  is  meant  by  such  measurements  and  how 
they  are  obtained  before  he  is  willing  or  able  to  follow  the  discussions 
in  the  intervening  chapters.  I  believe,  however,  that  the  subject  is  not 
so  difficult  for  anyone  who  has  at  all  applied  himself  to  the  study  of 


^A  Square  Gait  5 

equine  locomotion  and  balance.  I  would  like  to  have  the  reader  prove 
to  himself,  by  his  own  trials,  that  I  am  not  trying  to  set  up  any  par- 
ticular theory  regarding  the  motion  of  the  horse,  but  that  definite  data 
of  this  sort  give  the  best  foundation  for  practical  results  and  that  there 
is  a  practical  value  to  the  investigation  here  offered.  Many  a  reader 
may,  however,  turn  from  the  various  demonstrations  as  being  too  in- 
tricate and  go  back  to  the  chance  of  hitting  upon  a  lucky  combination 
of  circumstances.  He  may  possess  intuition  or  the  knack  of  doing 
things  without  knowing  the  reason  why.  Some  men  have  that  insight 
and  strike  the  right  thing.  Sometimes  the  reward  comes  to  him  who 
waits — long  enough.  Most  of  us,  however,  are  not  gifted  that  way 
and  for  all  of  us  it  seems  better  and  safer  to  hew  and  saw  timber  by 
lines  and  figures. 

What  I  intend  to  show  in  the  course  of  this  investigation  is  that 
irregular  extensions  of  the  legs,  which  mainly  cause  a  faulty  .gait  and 
loss  of  speed,  can  be  equalized  again  by  means  of  a  different  adjust- 
ment of  shoes,  such  as  weight,  length  and  angle  of  hoof,  and  the  shape 
•of  the  shoe.  Such  unequal  extensions  must,  however,  be  established 
from  general  averages  and  not  from  a  few  casual  measurements.  We 
should,  therefore,  make  a  trial  for  such  measurements  of  at  least  ten 
strides,  if  not  twenty,  which  will  show  the  defects  even  better.  The 
average  of  any  of  such  distances  is  the  sum  of  those  distances  divided 
by  the  number  of  times  such  distances  were  taken  or  computed.  Any 
one  of  these  distances  may  vary  considerably  from  any  other,  but  the 
average  must  show  any  peculiarity  of  gait. 

These  requirements  may  offer  some  difficulties  at  first,  but  a  little 
familiarity  with  the  positions  of  the  feet  on  the  ground  will  soon  make 
matters  clear.  Special  note  books,  such  as  I  have  used,  will  be  pre- 
pared and  offered  at  a  reasonable  price  to  those  who  may  want  to  take 
up  this  matter  with  horses  of  their  own. 

This  book  will  show  in  various  cases  the  effects  of  weight  and 
shape  of  shoe,  of  toeweights,  of  the  angle  of  foot  and  of  the  length  of 
toe.  The  combinations  possible  between  these  factors  are  almost  num- 
berless, and  trainers  may  succeed  better  than  I  have  in  making  a  proper 
combination  on  suggestions  herein  given.  The  general  deductions 


6  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

from  this  investigation  may  briefly,  though  incompletely,  be  summar- 
ized as  follows: 

Mere  weight  of  shoe  in  front  will  increase  action  rather  than  ex- 
tension, mere  weight  behind  will  increase  extension  rather  than  action. 
The  shape  of  the  shoe,  of  course,  will  in  either  case  modify  both  action 
and  extension.  A  high  heel  or  a  long  toe  will,  again,  modify  the  effects 
of  both  weight  and  shape  of  shoe,  the  high  heel  by  itself  causing  a 
"pointing  back"  and  the  long  toe  by  itself  causing  a  "pointing  for- 
ward."  Again,  a  longer  or  higher  foot — both  at  toe  and  heel — will 
act  as  a  check  in  front  to  that  foot  and  will  be  a  lever  for  the  greater 
extension  of  its  opposite  mate.  Injury  to  the  front  leg  by  concussion 
is  often  due  to  such  slightly  longer  foot.  The  greater  the  speed,  the 
greater  the  effect  of  any  small  difference  between  the  fore  or  the  hind 
feet.  Again,  a  longer  foot  behind  increases  extension  and  will  put  a 
strain  on  its  opposite  mate  through  the  latter's  forced  backward  ex- 
tension. Skipping  and  running  behind  may  have  this  difference  for  a 
cause,  though  unequal  lengths  of  toes  or  angles  of  feet  may  also  be  at 
fault. 

In  the  experiments  I  have  tried  to  show  that  inequality  of  weight, 
angle  or  toe  may  at  times  become  necessary  to  effect  a  square  gait. 
Such  remedies  may  be  temporary  or  permanent,  according  to  whether 
the  irregular  gait  is  due  to  an  acquired  habit  or  to  some  structural 
fault.  Some  consideration  will  also  be  .given  to  the  extensions  of  the 
legs  around  the  turns  of  the  track,  as  well  as  to  the  effects  of  uphill 
and  downhill  grades  on  the  locomotion  of  the  horse. 

I  have  not  had  much  of  a  choice  of  subjects.  Some  were  good 
and  others  indifferent  horses.  Some  horses,  again,  were  not  amenable 
to  treatment  for  speed  development,  but  nearly  all  of  them  could  be 
made  to  acquire  a  square  gait  while  at  their  greatest  speed.  The 
breeding  of  the  horses  given,  wherever  noted,  should  not  be  construed 
as  a  reflection  on  family  faults,  and  is  only  meant  to  show  that  the 
subjects  were  trotting-bred.  Each  horse  should  be  treated  as  an  in- 
dividual by  this  method,  because  each  has  faults  in  a  different  com- 
bination with  the  whole  make-up  of  the  horse. 

To  set  forth  the  subject  as  clearly  as  possible  it  was  necessary  to 


Wanted — A  Square  Gait  7 

present  many  illustrations  and  diagrams.  The  reader  may  have  some 
difficulty  in  understanding  them,  but  a  greater  familiarity  with  the 
nature  of  the  motion  of  the  horse,  according  to  the  simple  plan  out- 
lined above  and  in  Chapter  X,  will  soon  enable  him  to  overcome  such 
apparent  difficulties.  Shoeing  and  balancing  is  a  difficult  subject  at 
best  and  requires  TIME  as  a  PRIME  CONDITION  to  bring  about 
any  satisfactory  result  at  all.  By  means  of  this  method  and  with  a 
little  perseverance  the  particular  gait  of  each  individual  horse  may  be 
ascertained,  and  from  such  definite  data  it  will  not  be  so  very  difficult 
to  follow  a  plan  of  shoeing  that  will  make  the  subject  stick  to  a 
SQUARE  GAIT. 


CHAPTER   II. 


THE  TRACKS  AND  MOTION  OP  THE  FEET. 


We  have  in  the  horse  at  motion  five  moving  points,  namely,  the 
four  feet,  which  strike  the  .ground  and  thereby  cause  propulsion,  and 
the  center  of  gravity,  around  which  his  weight  is  equally  distributed. 
This  latter  invisible  point  lies  in  a  plane  bisecting,  or  cutting  into  two 
equal  halves,  the  horse  at  right  angles  with  or  vertical  to  the  ground 
plane.  We  think  of  this  center  of  gravity  being  somewhere  in  the 
forequarter  of  the  horse  about  midway  in  the  girth  region. 

No  matter  what  the  action  of  the  legs  may  be,  whether  high  or 
low,  the  motion  of  the  horse  is  the  most  perfect  and  graceful  when  this 
center  of  gravity  is  freest  from  up  and  down  or  side  to  side  move- 
ments. It  is  most  pleasing  to  the  eye  and  most  effective  in  point 
of  speed  when  this  center  of  gravity  keeps  in  a  practically  straight 
line,  and  the  motion  of  the  legs  is  most  economical  of  force  and 
hence  beautiful,  when,  looked  at  vertically  from  behind  or  in  front, 
they  proceed  in  nearly  straight  lines,  and  when  even  the  curves  of  their 
action,  looked  at  from  the  side,  are  all  four  of  nearly  the  same  mag- 
nitude and  of  the  least  elevation.  In  other  words,  the  ideal  trot  should 
prpceed  from  straight  movements  and  nearly  equal  elevations  of  the 
four  feet.  Therefore,  when  all  force  of  motion  is  directed  forward 
and  shows  the  least  deviation  from  straight  lines  we  must  of  necessity 
have  the  best  results  in  speed  with  the  least  expenditure  of  energy. 

The  lines  of  motion  of  the  four  feet  must  therefore  be  parallel 
to  the  line  described  by  the  center  of  gravity,  and  must,  moreover,  be 
at  equal  distances  from  it  on  each  side.  The  vertical  plane  containing 
the  center  of  gravity  will  meet  or  intersect  the  ground  plane  midway 
between  the  lines  described  by  the  feet.  This  center  line  I  have  called 
the  median  line  and  for  practical  purposes  it  can  be  located  midway 

8 


Tracks  and  Motion  of  the  Feet 


between  the  wheels  of  the  vehicle  drawn  (see  Fig.  i).  We  shall  see 
later  on  that  the  distances  on  either  side  of  line  M  N  are  not  always 
alike  and  that,  moreover,  the  four  feet  describe  four  lines  instead  of 
only  two.  Fig.  i  represents  an  illustration  of  the  ideal  line  trot. 

FlCr.  2  . 


) 

;  > 

1 

C 

r 

B          N         D 

v   ' 

ft  b  '  Lines  of  feet- 
on  nearside 

C  D  *  Lints  of  Feet 
on  oFF  side 

fl  fi  *  median  line 


\ 


n 


o 


O 


/v 

fore  foot 
C\  =  hind  foot  ^  ' 
M  /v--  median  lint 


Furthermore,  the  actions  of  the  legs,  or  rather  their  extension, 
must  be  like  that  of  a  pendulum  swinging  backward  and  forward  to 
the  same  extent.  This  equal  extension  from  an  imaginary  plumb  line 
through  the  middle  of  leg  insures  the  requisite  regularity  of  gait, 


10 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


rhythm  of  the  fall  of  feet,  and  harmony  between  hind  and  front  ex- 
tremities. Any  deviation  from  the  above  lines  of  action  will  be  due 
either  to  a  natural  or  to  an  acquired  or  accidental  fault. in  the  structure 
of  the  legs  or  feet.  These  deviations  will  enter  largely  into  this  in- 
vestigation, because  most  horses  have  some  structural  faults  to  over- 
come in  their  effort  at  speed.  The  correction  of  such  faults,  wherever 
possible,  constitutes  largely  what  is  called  "balancing." 

We  come  now  to  the  consideration  of  the  imprints  or  tracks  left 
on  the  ground  by  the  trotter  at  speed.  Fig.  2  will  show  the  relative 
position  of  fore  and  hind  feet  of  a  horse  going  at  about  a  2:30  gait. 
Roughly  estimated,  we  have  here  a  stride  of  16  ft.,  with  about  3  ft. 
between  the  diagonal  or  correlated  feet  which  move  together,  and 
with  about  5  ft.  as  the  distance  of  hind  over  fore,  or  overstep.  The 

M 


4 

^        > 

> 

v     > 

£1  U 

Oti 

crir     "7 

N 

small  brackets  show  the  diagonal  or  correlated  feet  and  the  longer 
brackets  the  oversteps.  Ordinarily  this  is  the  notation,  or  order  of 
succession,  of  the  four  moving  feet  as  they  strike  the  ground.  The 
distance  between  the  feet  is  intentionally  much  exaggerated  to  show 
the  lines  of  motion  on  each  side.  As  a  rule  the  distance  between  the 
fore,  measured  from  the  middle  of  frogs,  is  from  2  to  4  inches,  and 
the  distance  between  the  hind  probably  averages  from  4  to  7  inches. 
Now  and  then  we  strike  a  line  trotter  whose  lines  of  motion  of  fore 
and  of  hind  are  nearly  coincident.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  in  nearly  all 
trotters  the  hind  feet  spread  more  than  the  fore.  This  is  no  doubt  due 
to  the  greater  mobility  of  the  hind,  as  well  as  to  the  probability  of 
their  obtaining  a  better  hold  of  ground  by  spreading  somewhat.  In 
no  case  of  a  fast  trotter  do  we  find  an  extreme  outside  position  of  hind 
as  in  Fig.  3.  No  doubt  the  larger  spread  of  hind  is  also  due  to  a  pos- 


Tracks  and  Motion  of  the  Feet 


ii 


sible  interference  of  hind  with  fore  at  I  in  Fig.  4,  A  and  B,  and 
the  endeavor  to  avoid  such.     In  A  we  have  a  knee-hitter  and  in  B  a 


hind 


fore  ^ 


o 


hind 


/ 


fort 


=  hind 


«-"  ft  /- 

F/&.4.  fro  5 

paddler.  The  curves  of  motion  of  hind  are  excessive  in  this  instance 
merely  to  show  the  tendency  to  spread  and  the  point  of  possible  con- 
tact. In  the  approximate  line  trot  we  are  likely  to  have  the  same  slight 


F/0.6  . 

contact,  as  at  I  in  Fig.  5,  if  the  length  of  the  animal  does  not  counter- 
act such  contract,  as  in  I  in  Fig.  6,  where  the  hind  cannot  cross  the 
path  of  the  fore  except  after  the  fore  has  preceded  it.  Such  an  action 


12  Gait  of,  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

is  more  likely  to  be  found  in  the  line  trot,  which  we  must  assume  as 
being  the  ideal  locomotion. 

All  our  investigations  of  such  motion,  whose  record  is  left  on 
the  ground,  should  be  made  on  an  even  surface  of  such  a  nature  as 
the  tracks  of  this  country  present.  The  ground  should  be  harrowed 
or  raked  by  hand,  leaving  a  surface  of  fine  loose  earth  on  top,  just  as 
a  fast  and  safe  track  is  generally  kept. 

We  must  base  such  investigations  on  this  even  surface  so  that  un- 
evenness  of  gait  is  not  due  to  roughness  of  ground,  but  to  the  causes 
which  we  wish  to  ascertain.  Ordinarily  the  greater  the  distance  meas- 
ured the  better  will  be  the  results,  but  all  the  way  from  10  to  20  strides 
will  show  the  ,gait  well  enough.  Horses  at  a  fair  speed  and  according 
to  the  nature  of  the  gait  will  stride  from  16  to  21  feet  with  each  leg 
as  they  fly  through  the  air  from  one  imprint  to  the  next.  I  have  al- 
ways taken  20  strides  as  my  basis  of  calculations,  because,  firstly,  the 
distance  is  long  enough  to  show  repetition  of  faults,  or  rather  the  varia- 
tions from  the  average ;  and,  secondly,  because  the  simple  decimal  num- 
ber is  easy  to  divide  with  in  the  calculations.  We  shall,  therefore,  re- 
quire a  stretch  of  from  360  to  420  ft. 

The  second  important  requirement  of  such  an  investigation  is  an 
even  rate  of  going  when  trotting  over  this  stretch  with  the  horse  at 
speed.  The  line  so  taken  should  also  be  as  straight  as  possible ;  but 
ordinarily  both  these  requirements  are  fulfilled  because  of  the  nature 
of  the  trial,  which  is  but  a  piece  out  of  a  quarter  or  half  mile.  We 
may  safely  assume  that  if  the  speed  is  not  uniform  or  the  line  straight, 
this  is  due  to  the  very  causes  we  intend  to  investigate.  Averages  and 
variations  tell  a  truthful  tale  just  the  same. 

Let  us  imagine  that  all  these  preliminary  conditions  are  estab- 
lished and  we  look  at  the  tracks  of  the  horse  just  driven  over  that 
piece  of  ground. 

There  will  be  the  record  on  the  ground  as  given  in  Fig.  2.  We 
know  that  in  the  trot  two  diagonally  opposite  feet  move  at  the  same 
time.  Let  us  call  them  the  correlated  feet,  because  of  their  similar 
extension  and  action  at  the  same  time.  In  Figs.  7,  8  and  9  we  have 
these  correlated  feet  at  rest,  in  a  slow  walk  and  in  a  trot.  The  fall  of 


Tracks  and  Motion  of  the  Feet 


these  feet  must  occur  at  the  same  time ;  that  is,  one  fore  and  one  hind 
should  touch  the  ground  at  the  same  time.  This  is  eminently  so  in 
the  true  trot  and  pace.  Nor  should  there  be  any  accent  on  the  fall  of 
one  pair  more  than  on  the  other.  In  order  to  bring  about  this  regu- 
larity the  distance  of  one  fore  from  the  other  and  of  one  hind  from 
the  other,  should  be  the  same ;  that  is,  the  extension  of  all  four  should 
be  equal.  And  if  this  is  so,  then  the  two  distances  between  the  corre- 
lated feet  should  be  the  same.  In  fact,  it  will  be  found  that  the  funda- 
mental principle  of  the  square  trot  is  the  equal  distance  between  these 


Fit.  7 


FIG 


\ 
f 


diagonally  opposite  feet.  The  same  principle  holds  good  with  the  dis- 
tance between  the  lateral  feet,  or  feet  on  the  two  sides  of  the  pacer. 
These  also  strike  the  ground  at  the  same  time  and  must  be  equally 
separated  for  even  action  and  extension. 

In  Figs.  10,  ii  and  12  we  shall  take  a  brief  look  at  the  positions 
of  the  pacer  when  at  rest,  in  a  slow  walk  and  at  speed.  What 
is  true  of  the  trotter's  locomotion  is  also  true  of  that  of  the  pacer,  with 
some  slight  modifications.  A  line  pace  is  not  generally  spoken  of  as 
often  as  a  line  trot,  but  what  holds  good  of  lost  motion  in  curves  in 
one  gait  is  also  true  in  the  other,  and  the  danger  point  of  interference 
is  similar.  As  in  the  trot  the  hind  foot  is  likely  to  interfere  with  the 


14  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

fore  foot,  but  on  the  opposite  side  as  it  passes  it  in  the  air  at  about  I 


( 

( 

) 

J 

i 

I 

*) 

C 

MI 

\ 

( 

f) 

J 

1 

F,*.IO 

7  • 

1 

C 

s- 

,     { 

( 

j                                           \ 

^ 

} 

I 

• 

( 

•) 

r 

1 

C 

> 

FI&.  12.                   (• 

(j 

l 

A 

n 

/ 

) 

FIG.  II 


FJG.12* 


in  Fig.  I2A.    This  constitutes  "cross-firing"  in  the  pacer.    As  in  the  trot 
the  "overstep"  was  the  overlap  of  one  pair  of  correlated  feet  over  the 


Tracks  and  Motion  of  the  Feet 


other  pair,  so  also  in  the  pace  there  is  a  distance  of  opposite  pair  of 
feet  as  indicated  by  the  brackets  in  Fig.  I2A. 

And  again,  as  in  the  trot,  these  distances  between  the  pairs  of 
lateral  feet,  or  the  extension  on  one  side  and  on  the  other,  should  be 
equal ;  but  we  shall  see  later  on  that  in  either  gait  the  extension  on 
one  side  may  exceed  that  on  the  other  a  little,  because  of  the  habit  of 
horses  to  relieve  themselves  under  great  exertion  by  placing  one  foot 
ahead  of  the  other.  We  shall  also  find  that  .generally  in  the  pace  the 
fore  feet  are  apt  to  spread  farther  apart  than  the  hind  and  the  ten- 
dency of  the  lines  of  motion  is  given  in  Fig.  13.  The  line  pace,  how- 
ever, constitutes  the  standard  to  judge  by. 

We  can,  therefore,  assert  that  the  two  distances  between  the  corre- 
lated feet  on  both  sides  should  be  the  same  in  both  the  trot  and  the 


M 


mr 

Fio. 


TTT) 

13 


N 


pace.  We  also  have  seen  that  there  is  a  possible  interference  of  hind 
with  fore  as  the  pairs  of  correlated  feet  pass  each  other  in  midair,  and 
that,  inasmuch  as  any  curves  in  the  locomotion  of  either  gait  tend  to 
loss  of  time  and  energy,  there  is  a  line  trot  as  well  as  a  line  pace  as  the 
most  economic  form  of  propulsion  as  far  as  time  and  energy  is  con- 
cerned. Judged  by  these  standards  of  gait,  any  locomotion  deviating 
largely  from  them  is  faulty  because  it  produces  a  certain  amount  of 
"lost  motion,"  or  motion  to  the  sides,  with  all  the  dangers  of  interfer- 
ence. 

Such  must  be  the  standards,  but  where  faulty  action  accordingly 
exists  there  may  be  some  compensations  that  offset  these  faults.  On 
the  whole,  nature  has  a  wonderful  way  of  making  amends  for  de- 
ficiencies in  her  creations  of  the  animal  as  well  as  the  human  family. 


1 6  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

She  counterbalances  a  weak  structure  by  a  correspondingly  larger  de- 
velopment elsewhere.  In  other  words,  we  may  find  a  compensation  or 
an  offset  in  hind  gait  for  whatever  may  be  out  of  the  ordinary  with 
the  fore  action,  and  vice  versa. 

A  phenomenon  like  Lou  Dillon  can  give  free  play  and  action  to 
her  hind  legs  by  a  peculiar  habit  of  crossing  over  with  fore.  At  first 
this  seems  excessive  and  impossible,  but  her  wonderful  speed  is  that 
of  a  phenomenon.  Later  on  we  shall  analyze  her  peculiar  gait.  Other 
great  trotters  may  have  similar  habits  of  motion ;  but  we  cannot  judge 
the  good  ordinary  trotter  by  a  phenomenon,  and  it  is  best  to  take  the 
locomotion  of  the  majority  of  trotters  as  a  standard  form  in  estab- 
lishing the  faults  and  shortcomings  of  gait.  Speed  is  born  with  some 
horses;  it  is  like  genius — everything  else  adjusts  itself  to  that  gift 
That  wonderful  capacity  to  trot  extremely  fast  with  a  frictionless  gait 
evolves  from  the  brain  of  the  horse  from  early  youth,  and  somehow 
the  motion  seems  perfect,  even  though  it  should  prove  to  be  only  a 
matter  of  compensations  in  the  movements  of  legs.  By  compensation 
is  meant  that  balance  of  development  which  counteracts  weakness  here 
by  strength  there  in  the  make-up  of  the  horse  and  in  his  motion.  We 
find,  for  instance,  a  horse  with  very  high  action  in  front  and  low  action 
behind,  and  yet  he  trots  fast  and  true.  The  eye  is  not  pleased,  our 
sense  of  symmetry  is  sadly  jarred  and  our  task  of  balancing  a  trotter 
of  that  kind  is  truly  great  at  times ;  and  yet  we  learn  to  accommo- 
date shoeing  to  that  mode  of  action  and  will  find  it  nearly  impossible 
to  equalize  the  action  and  to  make  it  conform  to  that  standard  or  ideal 
motion,  where  there  is  the  least  difference  between  the  elevation  of 
fore  and  hind  and  where  the  speed  is  attained  without  undue  exertion. 
The  test  of  measuring  the  extensions  and  computing  the  averages 
and  variations — in  other  words,  the  analysis  of  such  an  apparently- 
unequal  action — will  reveal  the  fact  that  the  symmetry  of  extension  is 
good  and  that  the  feet  land  squarely  on  the  ground. 

This  brings  us  to  the  ordinary  way  of  judging  the  trotter's  action 
by  the  eye,  or  by  the  side  view  while  in  motion. 

The  human  eye  has  always  claimed  great  accuracy  of  observation 
concerning  things  in  motion,  but  photography  has  shown  how  unre- 


Tracks  and  Motion  of  the  Feet  1 7 

liable  it  is  in  its  verdict.  We  are  now  quite  familiar  with  the  positions 
of  feet  and  motion  of  legs  as  the  camera  has  fixed  them  in  their  pro- 
gression while  the  horse  is  moving.  At  first  it  was  unbelievable;  so 
set  is  the  human  mind  on  traditions. 

In  the  next  chapter,  therefore,  we  shall  consider  the  action  as 
seen  from  the  side. 


CHAPTER  III. 


ATTITUDE  AND  MOTION  OF  THE  LEGS, 


Many  years  ago  Dr.  J.  B.  D.  Stillman  published  a  book  on  "The 
Horse  in  Motion",  under  the  patronage  of  the  late  Gov.  Leland  Stan- 
ford, the  maker  and  owner  of  the  once  famous  Palo  Alto  Farm.  Here 
a  very  skilful  photographer  by  the  name  of  E.  J.  Muybridge  took  a 
series  of  photographs  of  animals  in  motion  and  succeeded  in  proving 
as  unnatural  all  previously  conceived  ideas  regarding  the  various  atti- 
tudes of  animals  in  motion.  The  photographs  were  a  wonderful  reve- 
lation, not  only  to  the  men  engaged  with  horses,  but  also  to  the  world 
at  large  and  particularly  to  students  and  masters  of  art.  The  services 
that  Muybridge  rendered  to  the  cause  of  the  horse  and  of  art  can  never 
be  overestimated,  for  they  lie  at  the  very  foundation  of  a  correct  un- 
derstanding of  animal  motion.  It  was  in  these  experiments  that  the 
strides  of  the  moving  horse  was  first  measured  and  roughly  stated  for 
each  horse,  and  this  fact,  together  with  David  Roberge's  sound  prin- 
ciples of  "pointing,"  first  suggested  the  present  analysis  of  the  trot 
and  pace.  It  seemed  as  if  the  record  left  on  the  ground  by  the  tracks 
of  each  foot  might  be  a  sort  of  photograph  of  his  mode  of  propulsion. 
Puzzling  as  the  idea  appeared  to  the  writer  some  ten  years  ago,  it 
gained  in  importance  and  interest  as  case  after  case  was  subjected  to 
such  an  investigation.  Before  considering  this  method  we  have  stiH 
to  look  into  the  motion  of  the  legs,  such  as  photography  was  able  to 
present. 

We  have  in  the  horse  five  moving  points,  namely,  his  four  feet 
and  the  center  of  gravity  situated  in  his  body  in  a  plane  passing  length- 
wise through  the  middle  of  the  body,  this  plane  being  at  right  angles 
with  or  perpendicular  to  the  ground  plane  or  surface.  This  center  of 
gravity  acts  as  a  pivot  of  locomotion  around  which  weight  is  equally 

18 


Attitude  and  Motion  of  the  Legs 


distributed  and  upheld.  The  motion  of  the  horse  is  most  perfect 
and  graceful  when  this  center  of  gravity  is  freest  from  up  and 
down  or  side  to  side  movements.  It  is  most  pleasing  to  the  eye 
and  most  effective  in  point  of  speed  when  this  center  of  gravity  keeps 
in  a  practical  straight  line;  and  the  motion  of  the  legs  is  most 
beautiful  and  most  economical  of  force  when,  looked  at  vertically 
from  behind  or  in  front,  it  proceeds  in  nearly  straight  lines  and  when 

Fib.  14- 

0  £ 


C*  centre  oF  gravity 

flD&BE  =  Sines  of 

motion  of  feet. 


D  E,  plane  of  motion  of  fixed  end  of  pendulum  P  F. 

A  B,  ground  plane. 

P  M,  P  N,  equal  forward  and  backward  extension  or 
swing. 

P,  point  in  shoulder  or  hip  at  which  legs  may  be  pre- 
sumed to  be  pivoted  like  a  pendulum. 

Dotted  lines,  variations  from  equal  extensions. 


even  the  curve  of  its  elevation,  looked  at  from  the  side,  is  not  ex- 
cessive, but  presents  a  natural  height  for  the  speed  shown. 

Therefore,  when  all  the  force  of  motion  is  directed  forward  and 
shows  the  least  deviation  from  a  straight  line  horizontally  and  no  ex- 
cessive curves  vertically,  we  must  of  necessity  have  the  very  best  re- 
sult in  speed  with  the  least  expenditure  of  energy.  The  lines  of  motion 
of  the  four  legs  must  therefore  be  parallel  to  the  line  described  by  this 
central  point  in  the  body,  called  the  center  of  gravity  (see  Fig.  14), 
and  must,  moreover,  be  equi-distant  from  it  on  each  side ;  and,  further- 


20 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


more,  must  the  action  of  the  legs  be  like  that  of  a  pendulum  swinging 
backward  as  far  as  forward,  and  thus  bring  about  the  regularity  and 
rhythm  of  hoof-beats  and  the  harmony  of  extensions  (see  Figs.  15 
and  1 6.) 

To  illustrate  the  above  principles,  which  ought  to  constitute  the 
perfect  gait  of  the  trotter  and  the  pacer,  let  us  look  at  Fig.  16.  Here  is 
the  profile  view  of  a  horse  at  rest  in  an  ideal  attitude,  namely,  where 
the  legs  stand  perpendicularly  under  the  body  of  the  subject. 

Vertical  lines  from  the  heels  H'  and  H  of  both  fore  and  hind 
(Fig.  16)  will  constitute  the  pendulums  of  legs  at  rest,  having  their 


FIG.  16 


M  ti    T  N  M'  H    F  H' 

A  B  C  D  B  F,  articulation  of  fore  part.  L  P  O  R  S  T,  articulation  of  hind  part. 
P,  P',  origin  or  pivot  of  motion.  P'  M',  P'  N',  extensions  of  fore  legs. 
P  M,  P  N,  extensions  of  hind  legs.  G,  approximate  location  of  center  of 
gravity. 

respective  pivots  of  motion  P'  and  P  in  the  shoulder  articulation  and 
in  the  buttock  joint  as  given  in  Fig.  16.  Such  a  vertical  line  runs 
down  the  middle  of  fore  legs  and  passes  along  front  line  of  cannon 
bone  of  hind  legs.  A  further  test  of  the  correct  attitude  of  hind  legs 
is  a  vertical  line  dropped  from  end  of  buttock,  and  this  line  will  coin- 
cide with  oack  outline  of  hind  cannon  tone.  P'  M'  and  P'  N',  as  well 
as  P  M  and  P  N,  exemplify  the  even  extension  of  legs  as  they  stride 
over  ground.  Fig.  16  is  meant  to  show  an  ideal  attitude  with  ideal 


Attitude  and  Motion  of  the  Legs 


21 


extensions  and  general  perfect  articulations  of  the  fore  and  hind  parts 
of  the  horse; 

Theoretical  as  it  may  seem,  such  attitudes  are  by  no  means  rare 
and  the  pictures  of  Sweet  Marie  2 :02  and  of  Sonoma  Girl  2.05^4  (Figs. 
66  and  78),  two  shining  lights  of  California,  illustrate  this  point  to  a 
remarkable  degree.  The  firmness  and  readiness  of  such  a  position  of 
legs  must  impress  every  horseman. 

It  must  be  left  to  the  eye,  more  or  less,  if  the  motion  of  the  legs, 
forward  and  backward,  be  equal,  or  if,  in  other  words,  they  swing  pen- 
dulum fashion  or  with  equal  extension.  The  rule  of  "pointing"  as  ap- 


plied to  motion  will  always  hold  true.  For  the  fore  legs  and  hind  legs 
there  are  in  each  case  two  faulty  positions  as  given  in  Figs.  17  and  18. 
Positions  A,  A  stand  for  the  normal  and  B,  B  for  pointing  in  and 
C,  C  for  pointing  out.  What  the  swing  of  each  leg  will  be  when  in 
motion  can  be  readily  observed  and  is  indicated  in  Fig.  15 ;  and  what 
can  be  done  to  overcome  the  faulty  tendencies,  if  a  remedy  be  possible, 
will  be  shown  later. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  such  faulty  tendencies  either  in  fore 
or  in  hind  legs  may  occur  in  subjects  of  great  speed,  for  the  efficiency 
and  energy  of  the  horse,  both  in  conformation  and  in  motion,  is  largely 
the  result  of  proper  compensations ;  that  is,  one  deficiency  is  often 
counterbalanced  or  entirely  removed  by  a  greater  development  else- 


22 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


where.  The  faulty  angularity  of  the  joints  may  sometimes  be  counter- 
acted by  powerful  muscles,  tendons,  etc.  After  all,  the  results  that 
we  must  try  to  reach  must  show  a  harmony  of  motion,  action  and  ex- 
tension, or,  in  other  words,  a  proper  balance.  Balance,  as  we  shall  see 
all  along  this  investigation,  is  but  a  study  of  compensations  for  the 
defects  as  they  generally  exist  in  even  the  best  trotters  and  pacers. 
The  great  ones  of  these  are  to  the  manner  born,  like  genius,  but  a  great 
many  more  are  made  by  the  patience  and  ingenuity  of  trainer  and 
shoer  combined,  and  it  is  the  purpose  of  this  book  to  aid  both  in  that 
accomplishment. 


Having  considered  the  attitudes  of  "pointing",  as  well  as  the  ex- 
tension of  legs  arising  therefrom,  we  naturally  come  now  to  the  eleva- 
tion of  the  feet  or  action  of  the  legs.  The  action  is  effected  on  curved 
lines  of  various  magnitudes.  As  a  rule,  the  action  of  fore  is  greater 
than  that  of  hind  legs.  The  standard  or  ideal  action  should  show  an 
approximate  equality  between  the  two  extremities ;  in  other  words,  that 
action  will  show  the  most  harmony  of  motion  in  which  the  elevation  of 
the  hock  action  will  be  as  high  or  nearly  as  high  as  the  knee  action.  The 
greater  power  of  flexion  of  knee  over  that  of  hock  will  always  pre- 
vent the  elevation  of  the  hind  feet  from  being  greater  than  that  of  the 
fore  feet.  On  the  other  hand,  the  hind  leg,  being  more  movable  or  more 
loosely  hung  than  fore  and  at  an  opposite  angle  of  flexion  from  that 


Attitude  and  Motion  of  the  Legs  23 

of  the  fore  leg,  is  apt  to  reach  forward  with  greater  ease  than  fore  leg. 
Hence  we  shall  see  later  that  to  prevent  interference  between  the  ex- 
tremities it  is  sometimes  as  necessary  to  decrease  the  extension  of 
hind  as  it  is  to  increase  the  extension  of  fore;  in  other  words,  to 
equalize  the  hock  and  knee  action.  Such,  it  seems,  were  the  endeavors 
and  the  results  of  Palo  Alto  Farm  and  of  the  Electioneer  family  of 
horses.  It  is,  in  fact,  a  very  reasonable  and  sensible  view  to  take 
of  the  action  and  gait  of  the  trotter. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  state  that  increasing  the  action  of  one 
extremity  by  one"  means  or  another  tends  to  decrease  the  action  of  the 
other  extremity.  If  by  toe-weight  or  heavy  shoes  we  effect  greater 
folding  of  fore  legs  and  consequent  higher  elevation  of  feet,  we  seem 
to  create  a  tendency  in  hind  to  remain  closer  to  the  ground ;  and,  vice 
versa,  if  by  heavy  shoes  and  calks  or  squared  toes  we  effect  the  greater 
action  of  hind  and  consequent  greater  elevation  of  feet,  we  seem  to 
diminish  the  action  of  fore  legs  or  elevation  of  their  feet. 

The  fore  legs  seem  to  have  the  mission  of  props  to  keep  the  horse 
from  falling  and  the  hind  feet  are  meant  as  the  great  propellers  when 
at  speed.  When  we  consider  the  forward  angularity  of  hind  limbs  we 
can  see  how  their  tendency  becomes  one  of  forward  action,  while  the 
backward  angularity  of  fore  limbs  tends  to  a  greater  fold  of  the  elbow 
and  knee  joints.  In  fact,  though  the  hind  legs  are  hung  more  loosely 
they  are  not  quite  as  well  adapted  for  high  elevation ;  while  the  fore 
legs,  more  firmly  or  stiffly  set  in  forequarters,  are  compensated  there- 
for by  a  .greater  ability  to  fold  or  bend.  Photography  has  proved  that 
the  fore  legs  also  act  as  propellers,  and  the  evidences  of  the  tracks  on 
ground  will  prove  as  much;  and  in  a  general  way  it  may  be  said  that 
the  action  of  the  hind  is  from  one-half  to  two-thirds  of  that  of  the 
fore.  The  less  the  difference  in  action  between  the  two  extremities 
the  more  harmonious  and  regular  will  be  the  entire  motion  of  the 
horse  at  speed. 

As  mentioned  before,  Muybridge  first  demonstrated  by  his  instan- 
taneous photographs  at  Palo  Alto  Farm  that  the  various  positions  of 
the  horse  in  motion  were  totally  different  from  accepted  beliefs ;  and  it 
is  well  worth  while  to  recall  his  results.  I  would,  therefore,  like  to 


24  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

present  to  the  reader  a  few  outlines  of  such  series  of  pictures  in  order 
to  enable  him  to  judge  for  himself  of  the  motion  of  the  trotter;  but 
the  main  purpose  of  doing  so  is  to  show  the  curves  of  elevation  or 
action  of  fore  and  hind  legs.  These  deductions  are  my  own  plotting 
of  the  various  points  in  motion.  By  connecting  these  points  with  the 
intermediate  line  or  curve  of  motion  we  arrive  at  a  presentation  of  the 
line  of  motion,  called  the  trajectory. 

It  is  appropriate  to  quote  Dr.  Stillman  in  his  "The  Horse  in 
iMotion,"  on  the  elevation  of  the  horse  while  in  motion. 

"In  the  slow  trot  the  action  of  the  muscles  is  not  sustained  and 
the  bony  levers  are  allowed  to  resume  their  normal  angles.  At  each 
half  stride  the  center  of  gravity  regains  nearly,  if  not  quite,  its  eleva- 
tion; but  as  the  horse  increases  his  speed  he  lowers  the  center  of 
gravity;  and  in  so  doing  enables  the  extremities  to  reach  farther  and 
sustain  the  weight  longer,  while  the  rapidity  of  the  movement  of  the 
body  gives  it  a  momentum  that  forces  the  suspensory  ligaments  to 
yield  and  the  angles  to  close  to  the  requisite  degree  to  prevent  to  alter- 
native of  the  defection  of  the  trajectory  or  the  crushing  of  the  limb ; 
and  if  measurement  be  taken  of  the  height  of  the  horse  at  different 
.portions  of  the  stride  it  will  be  found  that  it  is  least  when  it  would 
'seem  that  it  should  be  greatest ;  that  is,  when  it  passes  the  perpendicu- 
lar, or  that  point  where  the  supporting  limbs  are  shortest." 

In  Fig.  19  we  get  the  general  idea  of  the  elevation  and  exten- 
sion of  the  trajectory  or  curve  of  motion  which  the  foot  of  the  horse 
takes  from  one  contact  of  ground  to  the  next.  We  assume  here  that 
the  greater  the  elevation  the  greater  the  extension. 

This  illustration  serves  to  show  the  accepted  belief  about  exten- 
sion of  feet  or  legs ;  that  is,  the  higher  the  elevation  the  greater  the  ex- 
tension. In  a  measure  this  is  true,  if  other  conditions,  such  as  muscu- 
lar development,  "pointing"  and  manner  of  shoeing,  do  not  counteract 
it. 

But  from  proofs  by  instantaneous  photography  and  from  actual 
experience,  as  will  be  shown  in  later  chapters,  it  is  generally  true 
that  the  higher  the  elevation  of  action  the  less  will  be  the  extension. 
Figs.  20  and  21  will  serve  to  illustrate  the  point  on  this  subject.  With 


Attitude  and  Motion  of  the  Legs  25 

higher  knee  folding  we  are  likely  to  have  a  shorter  extension  from  A  B 
to  A  C ;  and  with  the  high  action  of  hock  joint  we  are  likely  to  see 
a  backward  reach  and  a  lessening  of  forward  extension  from  A  C  to 
A  B,  as  seen  in  Fig.  21. 

There  is  a  general  belief  that  extension  proper  is  affected  by 
and  concerns  only  the  fore  legs.     The  use  of  weights  is  too  often 


F/G-      19  . 


F/o.  2/ 


resorted  to  as  a  means  of  extension ;  but  the  effect  is  really  not  quite 
what  it  is  claimed  to  be,  as  we  shall  see  later  on.  And,  furthermore, 
I  hope  to  prove  to  the  reader  that  the  proper  extension  of  fore  feet 
depends  a  great  deal  on  the  proper  and  equal  swing  of  hind  legs  and 
especially  on  the  proper  backward  reach  or  propelling  power  of  the 
hind  legs. 

We  are  not  dealing  with  a  biped  but  with  a  four-footed  animal, 
and  the  attempt  at  regulating  extension  or  stride  or  quick  and  slow 


26  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

action  should  always  take  into  consideration  the  movements  of  the  hind 
legs  as  well.  Horses  move  in  all  sorts  of  ways,  it  is  true,  and  have 
speed,  but  many  would  not  come  up  to  the  standard  when  speed  and 
quality  of  gait  are  to  be  transmitted  to  their  next  generation  without  a 
step  backward  in  their  development.  There  are  many  freaks  and  many 
queer  examples  of  compensations  for  deficiencies,  but  all  of  these  are 
not  proper  factors  for  the  greater  evolution  of  the  trotter  and  the 
pacer.  We  must  have  ideals  regarding  their  gait  as  well  as  their  speed. 
Mere  speed  can  not,  and  in  time  will  not,  be  the  only  criterion  of  their 
fitness  as  progenitors. 

By  kind  permission  of  the  publishers  I  offer  my  own  outlines  of 
pictures  taken  by  E.  J.  Muybridge  thirty  years  ago,  as  found  in  that 
excellent  work  "The  Horse  in  Motion,"  by  Dr.  J.  D.  B.  Stillman,  pub- 
lished many  years  ago  by  Ticknor  &  Co.  of  Boston.  The  publishers 
have  still  a  few  copies  on  hand  and  it  is  a  pity  to  think  that  all  plates 
have  been  destroyed  and  the  work  is  out  of  print. 

The  tracings  here  offered  are  those  of  the  horses  Occident  2:16^4, 
Elaine  2:20,  Edgerton  (Abe  Edgington)  2:23^  and  Clay  2:25,  all 
owned  by  the  once  famous  Palo  Alto  Farm  some  thirty  years  ago ;  but 
the  lessons  from  the  motions  of  these  four  subjects  will  remain  ever 
new  even  though  we  have  progressed  in  the  production  of  speed. 

These  four  horses  are  different  in  action  and  gait  and  will  serve 
as  types  for  similar  cases  in  these  days.  It  is  well  worth  while  to 
recall  this  first  brilliant  and  bold  attempt  to  investigate  this  intricate 
subject.  A  good  deal  of  what  is  thus  presented  may  be  well  known 
to  many,  but  it  will  bear  repetition  in  conjunction  with  ,my  subject. 

The  great  usefulness  of  that  unique  presentation  of  the  consecu- 
tive positions  of  the  same  horse  in  motion  renders  it  invaluable  for  the 
student  of  gait.  Nothing  like  it  has  ever  since  been  attempted  so  far 
as  I  could  find  out.  And  the  further  fact  that  the  ground  line  over 
which  those  horses  trotted  was  divided  into  equal  divisions  has  enabled 
me  to  also  locate  the  consecutive  positions  of  the  feet  and  by  connecting 
these  points  to  trace  the  curves  of  motion,  or  the  trajectories  of  fore 
and  hind  feet.  Let  me  first  outline  to  the  reader  the  apparent 
characteristics  of  the  gaits  of  these  four  horses. 


Attitude  and  Motion  of  the  Legs  27 

It  is  said  that  Occident  was  found  in  the  streets  of  San  Fran- 


1 


I   «* 

^ 

i»   to 

r 

£« 

5* 

%  " 


I 


\ 


I 


cisco  pulling  a  butcher's   cart,   just   as   recently   the   trotter   Berico, 
2:09^4,  appears  to  be  a  graduate  from  the  hard  school  of  delivery 


28  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

horses.  Such  instances  often  give  rise  to  the  assertion  that  a  real 
trotter  will  trot  at  any  time  under  any  conditions,  no  matter  how  his 
feet  are  trimmed  or  what  shoes  he  wears.  It  is  the  call  of  the  gambler 
who  hits  upon  a  lucky  combination  and  mocks  all  natural  laws.  Trot- 
ters are  discovered  everywhere  by  their  action  and  their  gameness,  but 
they  are  not  brought  to  perfection  under  the  system  of  chance. 

In  Fig.  22  are  given  the  outlines  of  Occident  in  motion  with  a 
stride  of  17  ft.  9  in.  There  will  also  be  seen  the  elevation  of  fore 
and  hind  feet  taken  at  point  of  toe  and  the  comparative  action  or  eleva- 
tion of  knee  and  hock  taken  at  the  point  of  these  joints.  These  curves 
or  trajectories  are  taken  from  the  pictures  directly,  the  various  points  in 
the  positions  being  connected  by  a  continuous  curve.  In  the  case 
of  fore  and  hind  feet  these  curves  have  been  enlarged  to  bring  out 
the  outlines  better;  but  in  knee  and  hock  action  the  lines  of  motion 
follow  the  pictures  exactly  and  are  applicable  to  them. 

Occident  stands  apparently  as  a  type  of  the  resolute  trotter,  with 
much  display  of  action,  especially  in  front,  his  hind  action  being  a 
little  out  of  proportion  with  front  action.  The  forward  reach  of  fore 
legs  is  of  the  impressive  kind  which  tends  to  greater  extension.  When 
folding  the  knee  there  is  no  sudden  drop  of  foot  but  a  bold  unfolding 
of  that  joint  and  a  straight  reach  forward  with  foot.  The  path  of  feet 
in  the  illustration  will  prove  this ;  and  yet  he  lacks  the  goose  paddle 
out  behind  which  gives  the  trotter  his  ability  to  hurl  himself  forward. 
There  is  a  good  upward  and  forward  action  of  hind  legs  but  also  a 
little  "pointing"  forward  or  trotting  under  behind.  All  in  all,  Occident 
would  stand  for  the  ordinary  resolute  trotter  of  to-day  with  the  usual 
fault  of  inequality  of  fore  and  hind  action. 

Occident  was  by  Doc  449  and  was  a  star  at  the  time  when  in  1873 
he  took  his  record.  The  yearly  Occident  stake  for  three  year  olds  is 
aptly  named  after  him  for  his  gameness  and  courage. 

We  now  come  to  the  so  called  Electioneer  trotter  in  Elaine  2  120, 
by  Messenger  Duroc  out  of  Green  Mountain  Maid,  the  dam  of  old  Elec- 
tioneer. Here  we  have  that  peculiar  and  nearly  equal  extension  for- 
ward and  backward  of  the  fore  and  hind  legs.  There  is  a  nearer 
approach  of  elevation  between  the  two  extremities.  The  display  of 


Attitude  and  Motion  of  the  Legs 


29 


action  in  front  is  not  so  impressive  as  with  Occident,  but  the  extension 
is  as  good.  Behind  we  have  the  strong  propulsion  by  means  of  the 
goose  paddle  backwards.  The  lifting  of  hind  feet  is  more  sudden  and 


b 


higher  than  with  Occident,  and  because  the  fore  feet  are  not  so  greatly 
elevated  we  have  a  more  equalized  action  and  extension  at  the  two 
extremities. 


30  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

Though  often  called  a  "low"  gait  it  is  not  in  reality  so ;  but  there 
is  no  waste  of  energy  in  excessive  elevation  or  extension  of  the  feet, 
hence  it  strikes  the  eye  as  being  a  gait  without  loss  of  motion  or  a  gait 
with  some  reserve  force  back  of  it.  All  in  all,  it  is  the  best  form  of 
standard  gait  for  the  trotter  in  my  opinion,  because  of  those  character- 
istics. 

In  Fig.  27  I  have  endeavored  to  compare  the  relative  elevation  of 
knee  and  hock  joints  and  their  rotations.  The  lines  enclosing  the 
hock  action  are  the  limits  of  elevation  of  knee  action.  Generally  the 
hock  joint  stands  higher  than  the  knee  joint,  and  generally,  and  in 
spite  of  that  fact,  the  limit  of  hock  action  does  not  equal  that  of  the 
knee.  In  the  mare  Elaine,  however,  it  does  so  nearly ;  and  this  is  the 
point  at  issue  with  evenly  divided  action  and  extension.  It  is  this 
lower  action  or  elevation  in  front  and  the  more  than  ordinary  elevation 
behind  that  causes  the  impression  of  a  "low"  or  creeping  gait,  when  in 
fact  it  is  a  gait  of  exceptional  value  for  speed,  with  a  view  to  sound- 
ness, a  free  head  and  a  sure  footing. 

The  third  object  of  comparison  is  a  horse  called  Edgerton  in 
the  book  "The  Horse  in  Motion,"  but  which  was  probably  Abe 
Edgington  instead,  because  on  the  photograph  of  Muybridge  therein 
produced  he  is  shown  as  a  gray  gelding,  which  Abe  Edgington  was. 
He*  was  by  Stockbridge  Chief  Jr.,  and  had  a  record  of  2:23^,  got 
in  1878. 

In  studying  his  gait  we  arrive  at  the  conclusion  that  he  belongs 
to  the  more  ordinary  class  of  trotters,  with  only  medium  action  and  a 
tendency  to  stand  under  in  front  as  well  as  behind,  as  was  shown  in 
Figs.  17  and  18  under  B.  It  may  be  noted  in  the  illustration  how  hind 
foot  passes  on  outside  of  fore,  as  in  the  second  position.  This  is  a 
faulty  way  of  going  at  great  speed ;  for  to-day  the  "line  trot",  so  well 
advocated  by  the  owner  of  Palo  Alto  Farm,  and  so  well  exemplified  in 
the  Electioneer  family,  is  the  only  rational  trot  whereby  the  horse  can 
go  fast  and  safe.  By  line  trot  is  to  be  understood  a  way  of  moving 
hind  leg  in  nearly  the  same  path  as  the  fore  leg  on  the  same  side ;  at 
any  rate,  the  fore  on  that  side  must  be  out  of  the  way  for  the  hind 
when  the  latter  reaches  forward.  In  Edgington  the  folding  of  knee  is 


Attitude  and  Motion  of  the  Legs  3 1 

pretty  fair,  though  the  hock  action  is  jerky ;  that  is,  there  is  a  sudden 
lifting  followed  by  a  drop  to  a  low  elevation  of  foot,  giving  the  ap- 


pearance  of  a  low  hock  action.    The  trajectories  are  evidence  of  such 
a  gait,  as  we  find  it  with  the  better  class  of  trotters. 


32  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

In  the  study  of  Lou  Dillon's  gait  we  shall  see  that  with  her  manner 
of  propulsion  the  question  of  interference  of  hind  with  fore  feet  does 
not  apparently  cut  any  figure.  For,  inasmuch  as  the  fore  feet  cross 
over  each  other,  they  are  out  of  the  way  of  the  approaching  hind  at  the 
critical  moment.  There  is  no  "line  trot"  here,  although  the  hind  feet 
move  in  nearly  straight  lines ;  but  the  fore  do  not  move  in  straight 
lines  and  effect  their  propulsion  from  the  opposite  side. 

The  last  of  these  series  is  Clay  2  125,  by  St.  Clair,  a  short-coupled 
and  rather  leggy  horse,  with  all  the  faults  of  gait  which  such  a  horse 
is  apt  to  be  guilty  of.  With  a  good  deal  less  fold  of  knee  than  the 
previous  trotter  he  has  still  more  of  a  jerky  and  sudden  elevation  of 
hock  action,  due  to  the  fact  that  his  reaching  backward  with  hind  legs 
is  very  marked.  This  sudden  elevation  is  followed  by  as  decided  a  drop 
and  he  just  pokes  hind  leg  forward  without  any  further  effort  to  lift 
leg  or  foot.  Being  deficient  in  knee  action,  we  see  in  Fig.  27  that  knee 
and  hock  elevation  are  about  the  same  in  magnitude  as  those  of  Elaine. 
Being  leggy  and  short-coupled  and  probably  standing  under  in  front 
and  pointing  forward  with  hind,  he  passes  hind  legs  on  outside  of 
fore,  much  more  so  than  Edgington,  and  this  is  a  fault  not  tolerated 
to-day  and  one  that  never  promises  much  speed  or  an. even  gait. 

Finally,  there  is  an  unknown  pacer  given  whose  gait  is  not  of  the 
best  and  lacks  extension  to  show  its  characteristics  at  speed.  It 
shows,  however,  the  low  elevation  of  hind  feet,  not  only  as  compared 
with  that  of  fore,  but  also  by  itself ;  and  as  a  rule  the  pacing  gait  is 
of  a  more  creeping  nature  behind  than  the  trot  is  or  ought  to  be,  and 
in  the  lateral  extension  the  hind  feet  are  generally  inside  the  lines  of 
motion  of  the  fore.  This  is  the  reverse  from  the  lines  of  motion  of  the 
trotter  and  this  closer  approach  of  the  hind  adds  to  the  tendency  of 
their  low  elevation. 

This  pacer  has,  like  the  trotter  Clay,  the  fault  of  lifting  his  hind 
foot  off  the  ground  before  its  correlated  fore  foot,  which  often  tends 
toward  single-footing,  or  at  least  to  an  uneven  or  rough  gait.  In 
Elaine,  Occident  and  Edgington  we  notice  the  reverse,  namely,  that 
hind  foot  leaves  the  ground  a  trifle  later  than  its  forward  mate.  This 
is  as  it  should  be  to  insure  an  even  or  synchronous  contact  with  the 


Attitude  and  Motion  of  the  Legs  33 

ground  at  the   farthest  point  of  extension   forward.     In  the  above 


l« 


I" 


«)  n> 

L?      <\J 


-t:       o 


t 


Jl 


\ 


i 


t 


f 


°r 


E 


three  cases  the  fall  of  the  two  correlated  feet  or  diagonal  mates  occurs 
at  the  same  moment.     The  fore  foot  always  describes  a  higher  and 


34 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacc'> 


therefore  longer  trajectory  or  path  than  the  hind  foot ;  and  therefore 
does  this  retarded  action  of  hind  not  only  cause  a  greater  impulsion 
forward  but  also  less  interference  with  the  fore  on  the  same  side  and 


i  * 

o 

la 


V 

b 
^ 


1 


be 
S 


a  more  even  action  with  its  diagonal  mate.  In  other  words,  it  becomes 
apparent  that  the  greatest  fault  in  hind  action  of  both  trotter  and  pacer 
is  its  lack  of  backward  extension,  or,  what  amounts  to  the  same  thing, 
its  excessive  pointing  forward  or  standing  under  with  hind  feet. 


.1 
I 


Attitude  and  Motion  of  the  Legs  35 

In  Fig.  27  appears  a  comparative  schedule  of  the  knee  and  hock 


la 


A 


r 


36  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

action  of  the  four  above  named  trotters.  It  shows  the  difference  of 
positions  of  both  these  joints  as  regards  distance  from  the  ground. 
In  all  cases  the  hock  joint  is  located  higher  from  the  ground  than  the 
knee  joint,  which  is  a  common  observation  with  horses. 

In  a  later  chapter  the  details  of  such  comparative  elevation  are 
fully  explained  and  illustrated.  The  scope  of  knee  action  is  here  indi- 
cated by  the  parallel  lines  enclosing  the  curves  of  hock  action.  From 
these  plottings  it  may  be  seen  that  Elaine  comes  first  in  developed 
action  in  front  and  'behind ;  Edgington  should  be  second  for  a  similar 
reason,  but  he  shows  a  somewhat  less  developed  hock  action  with  more 
forward  than  backward  extension,  together  with  a  consequent  inter- 
ference. Occident  is  a  good  third,  even  with  his  excessive  knee  action 
and  low  hock  action,  his  gait  being  a  sample  of  the  endeavor  to  remove 
the  fore  feet  from  the  interference  with  the  hind  feet  by  means  of 
excessive  action  in  front ;  and  lastly  there  is  Clay,  whose  indifferent 
knee  flexion  but  good  hock  action  seem  to  cause  trouble  by  speedy-cut- 
ting, 'for  his  hind  feet  are  seen  to  pass  the  rather  sluggish  fore  feet  on 
the  outside.  This  is  a  gait  that  can  in  no  way  be  recommended,  but 
the  animal's  conformation  is  largely  at  fault  for  that  defective  pro- 
pulsion. 

At  the  bottom  of  Fig.  27  I  have  endeavored  to  present  the 
average  of  the  movements  above  referred  to,  and  from  this  the  reader 
may  get  an  idea  of  the  comparative  action  in  front  and  behind.  These 
studies,  when  applied  to  actual  cases,  have  always  indicated  that  it  is 
easy  to  increase  the  knee  action  or  to  decrease  the  hock  action.  These 
are  the  natural  tendencies  of  the  movements  of  these  joints.  Far  more 
difficult  it  becomes  to  equalize  the  action  of  the  two  extremities ;  that 
is,  to  increase  the  hock  action  and  to  decrease  the  knee  action.  As  all 
trainers  know,  proper  extension  counts  for  more  than  action ;  that,  is, 
proportionate  reaching  forward  with  the  fore  and  backward  with  the 
hind  legs  is  the  secret  of  a  regular  and  fast  gait.  Much  attention  has 
been  given  to  increase  the  extension  of  fore  and  but  little  to  the  pro- 
pelling power  of  a  well  placed  hind  foot  as  it  reaches  backward  in  its 
last  effort  to  fling  the  body  forward.  I  shall  touch  upon  this  matter 
later  on. 


Attitude  and  Motion  cf  the  Legs  37 

There  is  one  more  comparison  of  action  that  deserves  notice.     It 


v 


I 


II 


t 

£ 


VI 


V 


38  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

is  that  of  the  horse  Abe  Edgington  (Edgerton)  to  sulky  and  to  saddle, 
as  given  in  Fig.  28.  With  the  superimposed  weight  of  a  rider  the 
action  of  knee  decreases  and  that  of  hock  increases  in  elevation.  The 
hock  joint  by  depression  of  weight  is  nearly  on  a  level  with  knee  joint 
and  yet  its  elevation  is  as  high  as  in  the  trial  to  sulky.  But  the  most 
remarkable  change  in  action  is  the  sudden  elevation  of  hind  when 
leaving  the  ground,  as  given  in  the  drawings  of  trajectories.  A  few 
positions  of  the  horse  in  motion  under  saddle  are  also  given  in  Fig.  29, 
when  the  sudden  elevation  of  hind  feet  becomes  a  fact  to  the  eye,  due 
to  the  greater  backward  reach  or  extension  than  there  was  visible  in 
the  trial  to  sulky,  and  with  this  backward  action  disappears  the  ten- 
dency to  speedy  cutting.  The  trotter  clears  or  trots  under  the  fore 
with  his  hind  feet.  The  weight  on  the  back  prevents  a  pointing  for- 


•7  •»«»*»  j«  ii  a  a* 


Abe  Ed$in$ton  to  Saddle  -      Note  backward  action  and  extension 

FJ5.29 

ward  of  hind  and  seems  to  extend  fore  feet.  There  is  an  indication 
in  this  effect  which  points  to  a  similar  effect  of  letting  down  the  head 
of  a  horse  or  of  heavy  shoes  behind  or  shoes  that  will  favor  easy  back- 
ward reach.  This  will  be  investigated  in  later  chapters  treating  on  the 
measurements  of  the  gaits. 

In  summing  up  the  points  of  importance  shown  in  these  illustra- 
tions I  beg  to  have  the  forbearance  of  the  reader  for  the  imperfec- 
tions of  the  drawings.  They  were  prepared  with  all  the  care  and  skill 
at  my  command,  but  since  the  originals  were  not  quite  perfect  the 
faults  are  not  altogether  of  my  own  making.  In  the  main  and  princi- 
pal features  the  presentations  and  plottings  are  correct ;  it  is  only  in 
the  fine  outline  and  execution  where  they  lack  perfection. 

The  points  at  issue  are  all  directed  to  nearly  equalize  or  balance 
the  fore  and  hind  actions.  It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  fore  action 


Attitude  and  Motion  of  the  Legs  39 

is  always  greater  than  hind  action,  but  it  may  be  apparent  to  the  reader 
that  it  has  been  shown  that  there  is  an  adjustment  possible  between 
these  actions  which  will  bring  these  two  extremities  into  proper  har- 
mony. The  high  cleaving  of  the  air  by  the  fore  feet  is  pure  loss  of 
motion  and  energy;  while  the  low,  shuffling  gait  of  hind  feet  shows  a 
lack  of  energy  well  to  be  considered.  The  former  seems  to  produce  the 
latter  manner  of  motion;  and  the  efforts  toward  a  more  perfect  gait 
should  be  directed  toward  a  lessening  of  forward  action  and  an  in- 
crease in  the  backward  action  of  hind,  whereby  propulsion  is  effected 
and  interference  prevented.  And,  in  fact,  wherever  an  attempt  has 
been  made  by  me  to  bring  that  about  there  resulted  a  better  and 
smoother  gait  and — as  it  should  be — greater  endurance  and  speed. 

It  seems,  therefore,  advisable  to  set  up  a  standard  of  action,  and 
among  those  analyzed  above  Elaine's  comes  nearest  to  that  standard. 
There  are  still  many  advocates  for  the  gait  which  Occident  exemplifies, 
but  one  cannot  pass  on  it  as  nearly  so  perfect  as  Elaine's,  though,  of 
course,  it  is  energetic  and  powerful  and  apparently  promising  of  great 
speed.  It  is  the  manner  of  speed  that  a  great  many  fair  and  good 
trotters  have. 

The  gait  of  Abe  Edgington  (or  Edgerton)  must  be  judged  as 
somewhat  faulty,  but  also  as  amenable  to  correction ;  for  when  he  was 
put  under  saddle  his  gait  improved  wonderfully.  Here,  then,  seems  to 
be  a  case  that  could  be  corrected  and  shod  in  such  a  manner  that  in 
time  the  faults  would  disappear.  The  trotter  Clay  presents  a  con- 
formation that  would  always  balk  every  effort  for  improvement.  Na- 
ture makes  and  mars  trotters  and  pacers  by  a  faulty  conformation,  even 
though  the  instinct  to  trot  or  pace  is  in  the  brain.  The  gait  can  be 
regulated  and  the  speed  improved  up  to  a  certain  point,  after  which 
there  will  be  a  confusion  of  motion  in  spite  of  every  effort. 

Bearing  in  mind  these  side  views  of  the  horses  in  motion  we  are 
enabled  thereby  to  detect  some  deficiency  of  gait  by  the  eye,  and  this 
will  aid  us  to  analyze  the  gait  of  any  horse  by  the  method  which  I  pro- 
pose to  explain  in  the  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


RECORD   OF   THE  TRACKS  ON   THE   GROUND  AND 
THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  AVERAGES, 


With  animals  in  motion  we  must  ask  either  the  camera  or  the 
tracks  on  the  ground  for  the  story  of  their  gaits.  What  Muybridge, 
years  ago,  showed  to  an  astonished  world  was  the  profile  view  of 
horses  and  other  animals  in  all  stages  of  motion.  While  the  camera  has 
thus  given  to  the  student  the  key  to  animal  locomotion,  it  is  not  always 
practical  to  apply  its  revelations  to  every  case.  After  having  studied 
the  principles  of  such  exact  knowledge  as  photography  revealed, 
and  leaving  the  eye  to  judge  according  to  such  facts,  we  shall  dis- 
cover the  actual  condition  of  a  gait  only  in  the  record  left  by  the 
tracks  on  the  ground.  While  "he  who  runs  may  not  read"  in  this  case, 
it  may  become  convincing  during  the  investigation  that  he  who  studies 
a  little  may  certainly  read  the  meaning  of  this  record. 

Muybridge  and  Roberge  have  done  a  great  deal  to  analyze  and 
simplify  the  motion  of  the  horse,  but  added  to  that  knowledge  should 
be  the  study  of  the  tracks  for  each  individual  case.  This  recorded  gait 
on  the  ground,  when  reduced  to  figures  by  means  of  the  tape-line  and 
by  means  of  simple  calculation  for  general  averages  and  variations, 
will  soon  produce  order  out  of  chaos  and  give  as  clear  an  idea  of  the 
horse's  action  and  extension  as  is  possible  to  acquire.  The  main  fea- 
tures of  the  measurements  and  calculations  are  not  beyond  the  reach 
of  any  intelligent  person,  even  if  all  the  details  of  such  an  investigation 
as  formulated  in  my  small  manual  books  are  not  fully  carried  out  or 
computed. 

Many  people  make  much  of  the  so-called  stride,  or  the  step  the 
horse  takes  with  each  leg.  I  want  to  say  from  the  start  that  the  stride 
for  all  four  legs  must  be  the  same ;  that  is,  the  stride  of  a  certain  gait 

40 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground  41 

is,  say,  18  ft.  That  means  that  each  leg  strides  that  distance.  One 
leg  may  vary  more  than  another  leg,  but  in  the  sum  total  the  average 
for  each  leg's  stride  must  be  18  ft,  or  else  the  horse  will  break  into  a 
run  and  cease  trotting  or  pacing.  To  get  at  the  stride  of  a  particular 
gait,  or  of  any  horse  at  any  speed,  we  must,  therefore,  measure  the 
whole  distance  of  such  a  trial,  and  compute  from  this  the  stride  of  each 
leg.  If  for  convenient  calculation  we  choose  20  strides  for  each  leg 
as  sufficient  to  indicate  peculiarities  of  gait,  we  have  for  the  average 
this  total  of  20  strides  divided  by  80.  This  is  the  average  stride  for 
that  horse  at  that  particular  gait. 

There  are,  however,  irregularities  of  gait  which  are  caused  either 
by  bad  or  indifferent  shoeing  or  by  a  faulty  anatomical  structure  in 
one  or  more  limbs,  such  as  a  shorter  leg,  a  club  foot,  etc.  Such  de- 
ficiencies in  stride  are  found  by  this  method  to  consist  of  variations 
in  stride.  The  disturbing  leg  falls  short  of  average  stride,  and  when 
recovering  lost  ground  exceeds  such  average.  The  absence  of  exces- 
sive variations  in  the  strides  has  a  great  deal  to  do  with  the  regularity 
and  evenness  of  gait.  Later  on  we  shall  see  that  the  variation  from 
average,  in  the  fore  and  hind  legs,  has  a  different  meaning  respectively 
in  fore  or  hind  extremities. 

The  variations  lead  us  to  the  question  of  extension;  for,  where 
the  variations  are  different  between  either  the  two  fore  or  the  two 
hind  legs,  there  must  of  necessity  be  a  different  extension  or  placing 
forward  of  foot.  With  almost  all  trotters  or  pacers  the  same  habit 
prevails  as  with  the  runner,  and  that  is,  one  foot  is  preferably  put  a 
little  ahead  of  the  other  in  front ;  but  this  extension  of  one  fore  ahead 
of  the  other  has  as  a  consequence  the  simultaneous  extension  of  hind. 
In  other  words,  an  irregularity  in  front  is  likely  to  cause  one  behind, 
because  of  the  intimate  relation  between  fore  and  hind  legs.  In  the 
trot  it  will  be  the  hind  foot  of  opposite  side,  and  in  the  pace  the  hind 
foot  of  the  same  side.  As  the  difference  of  extension  between  the  hind 
legs  becomes  greater,  the  danger  of  interference  with  fore  legs  in- 
creases. Fig.  30  will  illustrate  the  points  here  raised  for  the  trot  and 
Fig.  31  for  the  pace.  If,  for  instance,  in  the  trot,  the  fore  foot  A  is 
with  preference  placed  ahead  of  fore  foot  B,  it  follows  that  the  hind 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


foot  D,  moving  with  it  at  the  same  time,  is  placed  ahead  of  the 
other  hind  foot  C.  If  this  were  not  the  case  and  the  diagonal  feet 
did  not  reach  the  ground  at  the  same  time,  the  horse  would  not 
be  trotting  but  single- footing  or  running.  So  in  the  pace,  where  A 
and  C  move  together,  and  B  and  D,  the  hind  foot  C,  moving  with  its 
lateral  mate  A,  must  be  placed  ahead  of  hind  foot  D.  It  must  be 
noticed  that  Figs.  30  and  31  only  indicate  the  tendency  of  such  differ- 


A7 


O 


o 


N 
Fit. 30 


FI&.3I. 


ence  of  extension,  as  if  the  horse  were  pointing  that  way  when  at 
rest.  In  Figs.  32  and  33  we  see  the  actual  record  of  the  tracks  on  the 
ground  for  the  trot  and  the  pace.  Applying  thereto  the  tendencies  of 
unequal  extension  as  indicated  above,  we  shall  find  the  actual  position 
of  feet  as  indicated  by  dotted  outline  of  tracks.  In  the  trot,  Fig.  32, 
we  have  a  possible  passing  of  hind  foot  D  on  outside  of  fore  foot  B 
(speedy  cutting)  as  illustrated  in  the  case  of  the  horse  Clay,  Fig.  25. 
And  in  the  pace,  Fig.  33,  we  have  a  possible  passing  or  interference 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground 


43 


(cross-firing)  of  hind  foot  C  with  fore  foot  B  on  the  opposite  side,  as 
seen  in  the  case  of  the  pacer,  Fig.  26. 

In  the  square  trot  as  well  as  pace  we  often  find  a  tolerably  small 
difference  of  extension  between  fore  and  hind  feet.  The  shifting  from 
one  foot  to  the  other  may  now  and  then  alternate,  but  if  this  difference 


A   * 


n 


ft' 


Ft  0.32. 


n 


\ 


a 


n 


Fio33 


is  small  it  becomes  negligible  in  our  investigations.  We  cannot  pos- 
sibly insist  on  an  absolutely  pure  and  regular  gait  and  must  at  all  times 
allow  for  the  condition  of  ground  and  the  great  effort  for  speed ;  so 
that,  when  such  a  difference  is  only  an  inch  or  two,  it  need  not  alarm 
us,  but  when  it  becomes  a  foot  or  more  there  must  be  something  wrong, 
as  in  a  rough  and  irregular  gait. 


44  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

The  ideal  gait  for  the  trot,  as  well  as  for  the  pace,  lies  in  the 
words :  equal  extension  of  all  four  legs.  Anything  short  of  that  may 
be  classed  as  irregular  and  subject  to  a  possible  correction. 

All  my  endeavors  to  reduce  these  two  gaits  to  a  basis  of  purity 
have  brought  out  certain  points  which  will  be  demonstrated  by  various 
experiments.  The  very  fact  that  these  experiments  were  tried  on  dif- 
ferent subjects,  and  that  the  principles  involved  were  applied  and 
yielded  definite  and  practical  results,  may  .give  the  reader  some  idea 
of  the  usefulness  of  this  investigation.  It  may  strike  the  reader  as 
a  laborious  process  to  establish  the  facts  of  a  gait;  but  are  not  facts 
better  than  guess  work? 

Balancing  the  horse  in  motion  should  be  based  on  exact  principles 
and  these  principles  should  be  deducible  from  careful  experiments. 
This  is,  to  my  mind,  the  only  rational  view  to  take  of  the  matter. 

I  anticipate  criticism  to  the  effect  that  this  method  of  measurement 
is  not  practical.  To  be  sure,  it  requires  some  actual  work  in  the  field 
and  some  mental  effort  at  figuring;  but  the  time  so  spent  will  be  far 
less  than  the  time  used  up  in  endless,  haphazard  trials,  with  all  the 
guesses  and  the  errors  of  visual  observation. 

This  method  is  not  given  as  a  cure-all,  by  any  means,  but  merely 
as  a  correct  indicator  of  faults  in  gait.  The  certainty  of  exact  meas- 
urements enables  us  to  get  at  the  facts  in  the  case.  When  we  once 
know  the  cause  of  disturbance,  or  have  any  indication  of  it,  we  can 
proceed  at  least  with  intelligence  to  correct  that  disturbing  cause,  if 
that  be  possible.  No  claim  is  set  up  either  of  a  cure  following  post- 
haste on  such  a  detection  of  a  fault.  Time  is  the  most  important  ele- 
ment in  correcting  a  faulty  gait.  It  should  be  remembered  that  a 
change  in  shoeing  is  not  immediately  effective  of  good  results,  and  that 
the  effect  of  a  previous  shoeing  or  paring  of  hoof  becomes  part  of  the 
effect  of  the  last  shoeing  and  paring.  For,  the  adjustment  of  muscles 
and  tendons  to  such  a  change  does  not,  without  possible  injury,  occur 
on  the  spot.  Hence  the  importance  of  a  continual  record  of  the  treat- 
ment of  the  foot  and  its  results.  This  means  a  steady  progress  and 
an  enlightenment  on  the  peculiarities  of  the  subject's  gait,  such  as  hap- 
hazard guess-work  can  never  accomplish. 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground  45 

There  is,  however,  a  method  of  making  some  horses  acquire  a 
fair  gait,  outside  of  a  definite  plan  of  improvement.  Many  horse- 
shoers  have  pursued  the  same  course,  namely,  that  of  fitting  the  'hoof 
of  the  horse  to  the  shoe  that  is  supposed  to  improve  the  gait.  By  con- 
tinued application  of  a  preconceived  plan  as  to  the  needs  of  a  horse  for 
a  good  gait,  the  animal  is  supposed  to  adapt  itself  to  these  set  require- 
ments. It  is  not  always  effective  and  smacks  of  the  "root-hog-or-die" 
treatment.  With  a  large  expenditure  of  time,  it  often  amounts  to 
nothing  but  hope  deferred  and  a  blind  perseverance. 

In  thus  defending  a  rational  method  to  ascertain  not  only  the  con- 
ditions that  exist  but  also  those  that  are  wished  for  in  the  improve- 
ment of  gaits,  I  do  not  claim  that  in  offering  this  method  of  analysis 
of  gaits  there  goes  with  it  a  prompt  and  immediate  remedy  or  recom- 
mendation of  shoeing.  I  doff  my  hat  to  the  skilful  American  farrier. 
He  is  bound  to  find  a  remedy  when  definitely  told  where  the  fault  lies. 
He  cannot,  however,  be  expected  to  know  the  animal's  gait  or  hit  the 
right  thing  by  guessing  at  it. 

Take,  as  an  example,  the  instructive  book  on  shoeing  by  William 
Russell.  He  has  demonstrated  in  a  general  way  the  effects  of  certain 
shoes  on  the  gait  or  manner  of  motion  of  the  trotter  and  pacer.  He 
insists  that  each  case  is  separate  from  others  and  requires  special  treat- 
ment. This  means  that  each  case  demands  almost  endless  experiment- 
ing, with  no  assurance  of  knowing  the  reason  why  the  final  adjust- 
ment of  balance  is  the  correct  one.  Roberge  followed  him  with  a  more 
reasonable  theory  by  laying  stress  not  so  much  on  the  make  of  the 
shoe  as  upon  the  shape  of  the  hoof.  While  the  making  of  complex 
shoes  reflects  highly  on  the  art  of  shoeing  and  the  ingenuity  of  the 
American  farrier,  the  principle  of  controlling  the  motion  by  the  shape 
of  an  ever  growing  hoof,  and  of  thereby  simplifying  the  shapes  of 
shoes,  carries  with  it  more  conviction.  With  full  recognition  of  the 
eminent  work  done  by  these  men,  and  for  that  matter  by  the' men  who 
follow  their  principles,  there  was  to  my  mind  a  great  need  of  a  method 
to  establish  the  facts  of  observation  upon  which  they  base  their  con- 
clusions. 

The  instantaneous  photographs  of  Muybridge  and  my  plotting  of 


46  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

those  curves  of  motion  of  the  feet,  as  found  in  the  previous  chapter, 
first  proved  to  me  the  irregularity  of  such  motion  and  the  need  of 
ascertaining  by  means  of  general  averages  the  variations  of  a  gait.  I 
found  later  on  that  the  two  eminent  Frenchmen,  Goubaux  and  Barrier, 
had  ingeniously  investigated  the  motion  of  the  horse  in  their  excellent 
work  "The  Exterior  of  the  Horse." 

This  helped  and  encouraged  me  in  my  investigations  to  find  a 
method  by  which  proper  balance  may  be  more  easily  found  than  by 
guess-work.  Though  shoeing  may  be  considered  an  art,  the  proper 
correction  of  a  faulty  gait  must  be  based  on  a  proper  analysis  of  that 
gait.  There  may  be  an  infinite  variety  of  conditions  and  the  relations 
between  the  four  legs  may  be  very  intricate,  yet  there  ought  to  be  some 
logical  deductions  possible  in  each  case,  provided  the  actual  facts  are 
put  down  in  black  and  white.  From  such  a  series  of  experiments 
I  hope  to  give  to  the  reader  some  simple  generalizations.  Should,  how- 
ever, the  reader  still  insist  that  each  horse  is  a  case  by  itself  and  doubt 
the  general  application  of  such  generalizations,  he  can  always,  by  this 
method  at  least,  find  the  relative  effect  of  each  successive  shoeing  for 
that  horse,  and  make  the  necessary  changes  to  improve  the  gait  of 
that  particular  animal. 

In  looking  at  the  tracks  on  the  ground  or  the  impressions  left  by 
the  shoe,  we  must  judge  of  their  nature  first  by  the  actual  contact  with 
the  soil.  The  ground  over  which  a  trial  for  this  purpose  is  to  be  made 
should  not  only  be  harrowed,  but  also  be  hand-raked  so  as  to  present 
a  reasonably  smooth  surface.  A  smooth,  frictionless  and  easy  gait, 
or  that  of  a  horse  well  balanced,  should  show  even  and  firm  impres- 
sions on  the  ground  of  the  four  feet,  without  any  slip  or  concussion. 

Whenever  there  is  any  sliding  or  a  marked  hardening  of  soil  at 
any  point,  and  a  repetition  thereof,  there  is  also  an  irregularity  of  gait 
and  a  difficulty  of  action.  Notes  should  be  made  of  such  repeated  con- 
cussions, because  this  shows  a  fact  of  a  deranged  action. 

Now  then,  our  horse  has  just  moved  over  such  a  prepared  piece 
of  ground,  practically  level,  for  a  distance  that  should  give  us  -20 
strides  for  each  leg,  as  before  mentioned.  Let  us  then  take  a  loo'ft 
tape  line  and  put  its  end-ring  at  the  toe  of  near  fore  by  means  of  a 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground 


47 


surveyor's  pin.  We  pay  it  out  to  the  end  and  place  another  pin  at  the 
100  ft.  mark.  Going  back  to  the  start  there  is  now  to  be  recorded  the 
consecutive  measurements  of  the  four  feet.  By  means  of  an  ordinary 
small  blank  book  ruled  as  in  Fig.  34,  these  measurements  can  be  put 
down  quickly  as  we  go  along  the  line  and  take  readings  at  the  point  of 

FIG.  34. 

MEASUREMENTS  OF  TRACKS  IN  FEET  AND  TENTHS  OF  A  Fool 

FROM  TOE  TO  TOE. 
Continuous  Measurements  starting  with  Near  Fore. 


Fore 

Stride 

Hind 

Stride 

Fore 

Stride 

Hind 

Stride 

N 

Toe>  

6.40 

— 

0 

201.60 

19.25 

207.60 

19.10 

0 

9.70 

— 

15-65 

— 

N 

211.15 

1925 

217.25 

19.15 

N 

19.30 

19.30 

25.70 

19.30 

0 

220.75 

19-  !5 

226.75 

I9.I5 

O 

28.75 

I9.05 

35- 

19-35 

N 

230.45 

19.30 

236.65 

19.40 

N 

38-05 

18.75 

44.70 

19. 

O 

240.05 

19.30 

246.30 

19-55 

0 

47-55 

18.80 

53-9° 

18.90 

N 

249.60 

19.15 

256. 

19.35 

N 

57-45 

19.40 

63.80 

19.10 

O 

259.15 

19.10 

265.55 

19.25 

0 

66.95 

19.40 

73- 

19.10 

N 

268.90 

19.30 

275-35 

!9.35 

N 

76.40 

18.95 

83-15 

19-35 

O 

278.45 

19.30 

284.80 

19-25 

O 

86.15 

19.20 

92.30 

19.30 

N 

288.20 

19.30 

294-75 

19.40 

N 

95.50 

19.10 

IO2.2O 

I9.05 

0 

297-95 

19-50 

304.20 

19.40 

0 

105.45 

19.30 

III.7O 

19.40 

N 

307.50 

19.30 

3H. 

19-25 

N 

II4-75 

19-25 

121.05 

18.85 

0 

S^-iS 

19.20 

323.55 

19-35 

O 

124.20 

18.75 

130.50 

18.80 

N 

326.80 

19.30 

333.35 

19.35 

N 

134. 

19.25 

140.50 

19.45 

0 

336.70 

19.55 

343«  1  5 

19.60 

0 

143.45 

19-25 

149.90 

19.40 

N 

346.40 

19.60 

353-10 

19-75 

N 

153.50 

19-50 

I59.90 

19.40 

O 

356.20 

19.50 

362.60 

19.45 

O 

163.20 

19-75 

169.10 

19.20 

N 

365.75 

19.35 

372.25 

19-15 

N 

172.55 

19-05 

179. 

19.10 

0 

375.25 

19.05 

381.60 

19- 

0 

182.35 

19-15 

188.50 

19.40 

N 

384.60 

18.85 

39L35 

19.10 

N 

191.90 

19.35 

198.10 

19.10 

O 

394-40 

19-15 

400.75 

19.15 

N,  near  side  ;    O,  off  side. 

toe  of  each  foot.  To  make  calculations  easier  I  found  the  surveyor's 
tapeline  more  practical  because  it  divides  the  foot  into  10  parts.  Deci- 
mal computations  are  more  readily  made  and  therefore  their  use  recom- 
mends itself  for  this  purpose.  If  the  metrical  system  were  established 
in  this  country  it  would  simplify  matters  vastly  by  ridding  calculations 
of  their  complex  figuring.  So  likewise  here,  if  we  were  to  figure  all 


48  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

these  calculations  by  means  of  the  twelve  divisions  to  the  foot,  or  actual 
inches,  it  would  complicate  matters  and  take  more  time.  Decimal  frac- 
tions of  the  foot  are  easily  reduced  to  inches  by  multiplying  by  the 
figure  12;  and  one-half  of  a  tenth  of  a  foot  would  read:  0.05  ft. 

In  all  measurements  so  taken  and  in  all  distances  so  recorded  the 
reader  should  bear  in  mind  that  such  distances  are  always  taken 
parallel  to  the  motion  of  the  horse,  even  though  they  are  referred  to 
as  diagonal  distances  in  some  instances,  in  order  to  designate  the 
points  in  question. 

Fig.  34  would  ordinarily  present  two  pages  in  an  ordinary  note 
book  so  prepared  as  indicated.  We  have  to  remember  two  things  in 
recording  these  measurements,  namely,  the  distinction  between  fore 
and  hind  and  near  and  off  side.  The  rest  can  be  done  at  any  other  time 
and  place.  In  the  trot  the  hind  is  ahead  of  the  fore  foot,  these  two 
being  together  on  each  side ;  and  in  the  pace  the  fore  precedes  the  hind 
on  each  side,  as  given  in  Figs.  32  and  33. 

I  present  to  the  reader  the  gait  of  Lou  Dillon  1 158^,  which, 
through  kindness  of  Mr.  Budd  Doble,  I  had  a  chance  to  take  when  the 
mare  was  under  his  excellent  care  at  San  Jose,  Cal.,  in  1905.  She  was 
trotting  well  at  the  trial  and  was  going  at  a  2  :n  clip  on  the  back  stretch 
where  the  ground  had  been  prepared  for  her. 

The  page  in  Fig.  34  is  divided  into  two  main  columns  for  fore 
and  hind  measurements  and  since  tracks  occur  two  on  one  side,  the  near 
and  off  side  alternate  in  the  columns.  These  are  marked  "n"  and  "o" 
en  left  side.  Auxiliary  columns  for  strides  are  given  to  start  calcula- 
tions. The  strides  are  easily  computed  by  deducting  a  previous  near 
fore  measurement  from  a  following  near  fore,  or  an  off  fore  from  an 
off  fore ;  and  in  the  same  manner  the  hind  feet. 

There  are  three  more  requirements  in  the  analysis  of  the  gait 
when  thus  established  by  a  continuous  measurement  of  tracks,  and 
these  are: 

(1)  The  distances  between  each  pair  of  correlated  feet,  or  the 
pair  that  move  diagonally  together, 

(2)  The  extension  or  distance  of  one  foot  to  the  other  (of  either 
fore  or  hind)  ;  that  is,  the  distance  from  near  to  off  and  from  off  to 
near  and  so  on  ;  and 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground 


49 


(3)  The  distance  which  hind  foot  precedes  fore  foot  on  each 
side,  which  is  to  be  designated  by  "overstep." 

Let  us,  however,  look  at  the  table  of  Fig.  34.  There  are  20  re- 
corded strides,  whose  average  is  approximately  and  quickly  found  by 
taking  the  measurement  of  the  last  near  fore,  namely,  384.60,  and  di- 
viding the  same  by  20,  which  is  19.23  ft. 

This  is  only  a  rough  calculation  to  get  at  the  stride  quickly.  For 
actual  computations  we  shall  have  to  resort  to  the  method  employed 
in  Fig.  36,  where  the  sum  total  of  all  the  strides  divided  by  their  num- 
ber (80)  definitely  determines  the  average  stride. 

FIG.  36. 
TWENTY  STRIDES  AND  VARIATIONS  FROM  AVERAGE  (+  AND  — ). 

Average,  19.24. 
FORE  HIND 


Near 

Var. 

Off 

Var. 

Near 

Var. 

Off 

Var. 

19.30 

+  .06 

19-05 

—  »J9 

19.30 

+  .06 

19-35- 

+  .11 

18.75 

—  .49 

1  8.  80 

—  .44 

19. 

—  .24 

18.90 

—  .34 

19.40 

+  .16 

1940 

+  .16 

19.10 

—  .14 

19.10 

—  .14 

18.95 

—  .29 

19.20 

—  .04 

19-35 

+  .11 

19.30 

+  .06 

19.10 

—  .14 

19.30 

+  .06 

19.05 

—  .19 

19.40 

+  .16 

19.25 

+  .01 

18.75 

—  .49 

18.85 

—  .39 

18.80 

—  .44 

I9-25 

+  .01 

19.25 

+   .01 

I9.45 

+  .21 

19.40 

+  .16 

I9-50 

+  .26 

19-75 

+  .51 

19.40 

+   .16 

19.20 

—  .04 

I9-05 

—  .19 

19-^5 

—  .09 

19.10 

—  .14 

19.40 

+  .16 

19-35 

+  .11 

19-25 

+  .01 

19.10 

—  .14 

19.10 

—  .14 

19-25 

+   .01 

I9-I5 

—  .09 

19.15 

—  .09 

19.15 

—  .09 

19.30 

+  .06 

19.30 

+  .06 

19.40 

+  .16 

19-55 

+  .31 

I9-J5 

—  .09 

19.10 

—  .14 

19-35 

+  -II 

19-25 

+  .01 

19.30 

+  .06 

19.30 

+  .06 

19-35 

+  .11 

19-25 

+  .01 

19.30 

+  .06 

I9-50 

+  .26 

19.40 

+  .16 

19.40 

+  .16 

19.30 

+  .06 

19.20 

—  .04 

I9-25 

+  .01 

19-35 

+  .11 

19.30 

+  .06 

19-55 

+  .31 

19.35 

+  .11 

19.60 

+  .36 

19.60 

+  .36 

19-50 

+  .26 

19-75 

+  -51 

19-45 

+  .21 

19-35 

+  .11 

I9-05 

—  .19 

I9-T5 

—  .09 

19. 

—  .24 

18.85 

—  •39 

I9-I5 

—  .09 

19.10 

—  .14 

I9-I5 

—  .09 

384.60 

'  384.70 

384.95 

385.10 

STRIDES 

19.23 

19-235 

19.247 

£9.255 

TOTAI, 

VARIATIONS 

+ 

1-39 

1.70 

+ 

I.7I 

1.82 

— 

i-59 

i.  80 

— 

1.56 

1.52 

2.98 

3-50 

3-27 

3-34 

50  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

Now,  looking  down  the  columns  marked  "stride"  we  shall  see 
distinct  variations  from  this  general  average  stride.  The  proper  way 
of  computing  the  general  average  is  by  arranging  all  strides  according 
to  the  fore  and  hind  feet  and  near  and  off  side,  then  adding  each  of 
the  four  columns  and  dividing  the  total  by  80,  which  is  the  total  of  the 
20  strides  of  all  the  four  feet.  Fig.  36  presents  such  an  arrangement 
of  strides  and  their  variations.  The  strides  are  easily  arranged  from 
Fig.  34,  and  adding  all  four  columns  of1  strides  we  have  as  a  total 
I539-25>  which  divided  by  80  gives  19.24  ft.  as  the  average  stride. 
Applying  this  average  to  each  stride  of  each  leg  we  shall  find  either 
an  excess  or  a  deficiency  from  that  average,  such  excess  being  marked 
plus  (-{-)  or  over,  and  such  deficiency  being  marked  minus  ( — )  or 
under  such  average.  These,  being  placed  in  special  columns,  are  the 
variations  from  stride.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  strides  are  far  from 
being  even  measurements,  but  are  subject  rather  to  the  condition  of 
ground  and  to  the  various  exertions  of  the  mare  when  at  speed.  But  in 
spite  of  variations  the  stride  of  each  leg  must  be  the  same  or  nearly 
so.  We  cannot  have  a  long  stride  in  front  and  a  short  stride  behind, 
or  vice  versa.  Therefore,  the  error  often  committed  by  pen  and 
tongue  that  the  stride  should  be  shortened  either  behind  or  in  front  by 
means  of  a  certain  style  of  shoeing  is  very  misleading.  What  is  really 
meant  is  the  shortening  of  forward  extension.  I  shall  have  occasion 
to  touch  upon  that  point  again. 

Now,  I  have  found  that  in  nearly  all  cases  (and  there  were  many) 
the  total  scope  of  variations  indicates  this : 

(1)  In  fore  legs  the  greater  total  variation  belongs  to  or  occurs 
in  the  stronger  leg;  and 

(2)  In  the  hind  legs  the  greater  total  variation  belongs  to  or 
occurs  in  the  weaker  leg. 

By  "total  variation"  is  meant  the  entire  scope  of  such  +  and  — 
variations  for  the  20  strides,  as  the  figures  under  the  variations  indicate. 
This  is  like  adding  same  by  arithmetic  and  disregarding  the  plus  and 
minus  signs,  which  latter  are  only  to  show  the  total  extensions  over 
and  below  the  average  stride.  But  if,  furthermore,  we  divide  the  total 
variations  as  they  stand  by  20  we  shall  obtain  the  tendency  of  each 
stride  with  reference  to  the  average  stride. 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground  5 1 

For  instance,  we  have  as  results  of  such  division : 

Fore  Hind 

near  off  near  off 

+.69          .  +.85  +.85  +.91 

—•79  —90  —-78  —-76 


—.10  —.05  +.07  +.15 

and  adding  these  averages  by  the  simple  rule  of  algebra  as  given  on 
p.  66  we  get  the  results  as  shown,  which  mean,  briefly  mentioned,  that 
fore  feet  fall  short  of  average  a  trifle  and  hind  exceed  it  a  little.  And 
this  again  proves  that  there  was  momentarily  an  increase  of  speed 
during  trial,  as  elsewhere  noted,  which  is  always  caused  by  greater 
hind  extension  first. 

And  so  even  at  this  stage  of  the  analysis  of  Lou  Dillon's  gait 
we  can  say  that  her  off  fore  leg  is  the  more  active  or  stronger  leg, 
and  the  near  hind  is  the  more  regular  or  stronger  leg  than  its  opposite 
mate.  Allusion  has  been  made  to  the  interrelation  of  the  four  legs, 
or  the  influence  which  one  deficient  leg  may  have  on  its  opposite  mate 
or  on  its  diagonal  companion  with  which  it  moves  at  the  same  time. 
The  off  fore  in  this  case  will  pull  along  the  near  hind,  or  vice  versa ; 
and  the  lagging  off  hind  may  retard  the  extension  of  the  near  fore. 
It  is  therefore  impossible  to  establish  the  tendencies  of  extensions  by 
merely  considering  the  stride  and  the  variations. 

Let  us,  therefore,  consider  the  extension  of  each  leg  with  reference 
to  its  opposite  mate,  as  shown  in  table  of  Fig.  37. 

These  extensions  are  likewise  figured  from  original  measurements 
as  given  in  Fig.  34,  and  they  are  found  by  deducting  the  figures  of  one 
foot  from  the  next  one.  In  the  '''fore"  column  we  have,  for  instance, 
19.30 — 9.70=9.60,  this  being  the  extension  or  distance  of  off  fore  to 
near  fore.  Then  again  we  have  the  next  distance  from  last  near  fore 
to  off  fore.  Here  the  figures  are  28.75 — I9-3°=945  f°r  tne  extension 
or  distance  from  near  fore  to  off  fore.  On  the  table  the  letters  "o 
to  n"  and  "n  to  o"  indicate  the  distances  from  off  to  near  and  from 
near  to  off.  With  a  little  practice  it  is  not  much  of  a  trick  to  figure  this 
out  rapidly. 


52  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

Now,  when  20  such  distances  or  extensions  from  one  foot  to  its 

Fie.  37. 
DISTANCES  BETWEEN  TWENTY  OPPOSITE  FORE  AND  HIND 

(Near  fore  to  off  fore,  etc.) 
Average,  9.62  (2  X  9.62  =  19.24). 


77^ 

POKE                                      ^X 

/*                                      HIND 

Off  to  Near 

Near  to  Off             »P 

\                    Off  to  Near 

A^ar  ^  C^ 

9.60 

945                     A 

\                       10.05 

9-30 

9-3° 
9.90 

9.50                       / 
9.50                  */ 

/^                      9-70 
/                      9'9° 

9.20 
9.20 

9-45 

9-75                     / 

I'M                 10.15 

r&&J) 

9-15 

9-35 

9-95                  H 

*                     9.90 

9-50 

9.30 

9-45                   (D 

^7              9.35 

9-45 

9.80 

9-45                     \ 

\                                10. 

9.40 

10.05 

9-70          on 

\<y^              10. 

9.20 

9-35 

9.80              of 

^n)            9-9° 

9.50 

9-55 

9.70             / 

/                     9.60 

9.50 

9-55 

9-60           f) 

92^*1                9.65 

9-50 

9.70 

9.60           ^ 

ri/            9-90 

9.65 

9-55 

9-55           y 

\                9'7° 

9-55 

9.75' 

9'55              ok 

L            9.80 

9-45 

9-75 
9-55 

975         *1 

°'l 

^      9t 

/             9.80 

9-45 
9-55 

9.70 

9.90              / 

9.80         A 

/  /<          9.80 

"*.                 995 

9.80 
9.50 

9-55 

9.50          0 

^v             9-65 

9-35 

9-35 

9.80           \ 

V                     9'75 

9.40 

I9L75 

on 

192.95            0/ 

AT              196.50 

188.60 

9.587 
Excess     -f 

9-647               / 

+  .o6                   A 
•06  =  .03                      Q 

7         9.825 

'nA        +  .395 

77^        +  .395  =  .1975 

'XM3 

2 

2 

Opposite  mate  have  been  found  and  arranged  in  columns  for  each  foot 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground  53 

we  shall  readily  see  the  curious  inequalities  of  such  extensions,  even 
in  a  horse  of  an  apparently  good  gait.  This  proves  in  part  my  con- 
tention that  only  by  an  accurate  method,  such 'as  this,  can  we  detect 
the  faults  or  peculiarities  of  a  gait. 

Adding  these  four  columns  and  dividing  by  20  we  have  the  actual 
average  extension  of  each  leg  with  reference  to  its  opposite  mate,,  but 
this  being  the  difference  of  two  averages  these  fractions  should  be 
divided  by  2  to  ascertain  the  actual  mean  difference  between  the  ex- 
tensions of  legs  or  feet.  Hence  off  fore  precedes  near  fore  by  0.03 
of  a  foot  or  0.36  in.  or  1/3  in.  and  near  hind  travels  ahead  of  off  hind 
0.1975  of  a  foot  or  2.37  inches  or  about  2  1/3  inches. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  averages  of  fore  added  together 
are  19.23  feet  and  those  of  hind  are  19.25,  which  seems  to  indicate 
that  for  those  20  strides  at  least  the  hind  exceed  the  fore  slightly  in 
extension.  The  same  fact  might  have  been  noticed  in  Fig.  36 ;  and  it 
shows  that  hind  legs  were,  in  this  stretch,  slightly  more  active  than  the 
fore,  an  observation  made  in  a  good  many  resolute  trotters  with  good 
hind  action.  But  if  we  were  to  measure  100  strides  this  apparent 
greater  extension  of  hind  would  subside  at  times  and  thus  keep  the 
horse  from  breaking.  For,  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  increase 
of  stride  is  always  first  made  by  the  hind  legs ;  and,  therefore,  this 
activity  of  hind  in  this  case  must  simply  be  due  to  increasing  speed 
as  she  trotted  over  that  piece  of  ground. 

The  general  average  of  all  of  the  four  legs  is,  as  indicated  at 
head  of  table,  9.62  ft.,  which  taken  twice  will  give  the  general  average 
of  stride,,  or  19.24  ft.,  as  we  computed  it  in  Fig.  36. 

The  result  of  the  last  table  illustrates  plainly  the  original  method 
of  David  Roberge  of  reducing  the  analysis  of  gait  to  a  series  of  "point- 
ing." Here  we  have  pointing  at  speed,  which  is  still  more  express- 
ive than  "pointing"  at  rest.  We  have,  therefore,  arrived  at  the  indica- 
tions of  irregularities  of  gait  by  means  of  pointing  or  extension.  These 
extensions,  when  unequal,  simply  show  the  habit  of  a  gait  and  further- 
more indicate  the  solution  of  a  possible  correction.  Later  on  it  will 
be  shown  that  Roberge's  simple  exposition  of  pointing  will  also 
serve  as  a  suggestion  for  a  remedy. 


54 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


Another  table  in  Fig.  38  is  offered  to  further  understand  the 

FIG.  38. 

TWENTY  DISTANCES  OF  CORRELATED  OR  DIAGONAL  FEET 

(Normally  the  same  on  both  diagonals). 

Average*  3.  26. 


67.10 


17 


*  t 

Distance                 *  <f 

»/ 

Distance 

3-65                        / 

*J 

^ 

3-05 
2.85 

3.55       V 

0 

3-'5                           /V^.J^. 

3-40                / 

3.                         Scale  i  m  to  J  foot 

3.20 

ft/i 

3-25                         ^£  2£—  £      M: 

o                                             •*   fc 

f 

3- 

}  f 

"v  —  a  =  v>o  // 

3.05                 ^ 

3-50 

\ 

2-95 

3.60               Q/i 

h 

3-30 

. 

345                of 

0 

3-35 

•r 

3-40 

7 

3.50 

355                 ^ 

Tin 

3-50 

370            Q 

»/ 

3-40 

3-3°                     > 

w 

3-15 

/- 

335        0A 

3-40                            y. 

\ 

nh     ^ 

3.20                                     oA 

3.30                          *' 

? 

3.15                   D/sf-  nf-oh  =  3.35  ft  > 
Dist  of-  nh  =J./S  Ft- 

325                              / 
325                         A 

n/f 

3-35                  D,ff   bet  pears  -.n  ft 
3.10                                )0r     2.0*  <n 
Average  (List  -3.26ft 

3.15           Q 

Ttf 

a  d  --    ac-hcof 

a. 

3/05                      ^>c    =    ac  t  boc 

3-18 


.1975  — .03  =  .1675 


nt 


o 


lad'  be  =  cd  -bo,  =  2. 


01m. 


movements   of   the  trotter.     It   considers   the   distance   between   the 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground  55 

two  correlated  legs,  that  is,  the  two  which  move  together,  such  as 
the  near  fore  and  off  hind  and  the  off  fore  and  the  near  hind.  It 
should  be  assumed  as  an  axiom,  or  a  proposition  unnecessary  to 
prove  and  sufficiently  evident,  that  these  distances  must  be  the  same 
in  the  square  trot.  For,  to  insure  regularity  of  action  in  the  trot  as 
well  as  in  the  pace  the  distances  of  feet  moving  and  landing  on  ground 
together  cannot  help  being  alike  on  both  sides.  If  they  were  not  the 
gait  would  approach  single-footing. 

These  distances  are  computed  by  deducting  the  measurement  of 
one  hind  foot  from  that  of  its  correlated  fore  or  the  diagonal  fore 
which  moves  with  that  hind.  In  Fig.  36  we  have,  for  instance,  o  h  = 
15:65,  to  be  taken  from  n  f  =  19-30  or  19.30  —  15.65  =  3.65  ft. 
Again,  n  h  =  25.70  to  be  taken  from  o  f '  =  28.75  or  2&-75 — 25-7° 
=  3.05,  and  so  on,  always  deducting  the  figure  of  one  hind  from  that 
of  its  diagonal  fore  on  the  opposite  side  on  the  line  below  it. 

There  are,  in  consequence,  two  columns,  and  adding  these  we 
obtain,  after  dividing  with  20  and  getting  the  average  on  each  side,  a 
difference  of  0.17  ft.  or  2.04  inches  between  the  sides.  This  means 
that  the  distance  between  near  fore  and  off  hind  is  2.04  inches  greater 
than  the  distance  between  the  off  fore  and  near  hind.  This  is  easy 
to  prove  by  figures  of  previous  table  where  it  was  shown  that  extension 
of  off  fore  over  near  fore  was  0.03  of  a  foot  and  that  of  near  hind  over 
off  hind  was  0.1975  of  a  foot.  This  would  present  the  matter  as  in 
Fig.  39,  though  the  difference  here  does  not  quite  agree  with  dif- 
ference found  in  Fig.  37,  which  showed  it  to  be  0.1675  of  a  foot,  or 
just  2  inches  instead  of  2.04  inches.  It  is  not  often  that  these  calcula- 
tions show  a  difference,  but  owing  to  the  greater  activity  of  hind,  due. 
to  probable  increase  of  speed  during  trial,  such  a  small  difference  in 
averages  is  apt  to  arise. 

There  is  one  more  consideration  about  these  measurements  which 
concerns  the  relations  between  fore  and  hind  legs,  and  that  is  the  so- 
called  "overstep"  or  distance  that  hind  foot  is  placed  ahead  of  fore 
foot  on  each  side.  Such  calculation  is  only  of  importance  to  find 
out  the  relative  over-reach  of  hind  and  backward  pointing  of  fore 
feet.  With  increase  of  speed  the  overstep  increases  in  distance,  for 


56  Gait  of  tJie  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

the  greater  the  speed  the  longer  will  be  the  flight  through  the  air  of 
the  horse  in  motion ;  and  this  overstep  shows  in  reality  the  distance 
between  one  set  of  legs  moving  together  from  that  of  the  other  set. 
Its  average  for  both  sides  will  prove  again  the  faults  of  the  gait  as 
we  shall  see  in  Fig.  40.  Here  we  calculate  from  table  of  Fig.  34  the 
overstep  by  crosswise  subtraction,  as,  for  instance,  taking  the  measure- 
ment of  each  fore  from  that  of  each  hind  following  it.  Starting, 
as  is  always  advisable,  with  overstep  of  first  stride  (19.30),  we 
have  25.70  —  19.30  =  6.40  on  near  side,  and  35.  —  28.75  =  6.25  on 
off  side,  again  dividing  these  oversteps  into  those  of  near  side  and 
those  of  off  side  until  the  20  oversteps  have  been  computed.  Adding 
these  again  and  dividing  by  20  we  get  for  each  side  the  average 
overstep,  or  dividing  the  total  by  40  we  obtain  the  general  average  of 
6.36  ft. 

There  appears  again  a  difference  between  the  two  sides,  which 
is  the  difference  in  extensions  running  through  the  whole  trial,  as 
shown  in  Fig.  41.  Here  we  have  the  two  oversteps  placed  side  by 
side.  We  know  that  the  extension- of  off  hind  over  that  of  near  hind  is 
0.1975  °f  a  f°ot»  hence  cd  =  0.1975  ft. ;  and  also  that  extension  of  off 
fore  over  that  of  near  fore,  L  e.,  a  b=o.O3  ft.  Therefore  the  extension 
on  near  side  must  be  greater  than  that  of  the  off  side  by  what  the  off 
hind  foot  lacks  and  the  off  fore  foot  gains.  In  other  words,  the  two 
feet  on  off  side  approach  each  other  by  their  opposite  tendencies 
and  the  overstep  loses  as  much  on  the  off  side  as  this  approach 
measures,  or  ab  +  cd,  which  is  0.2275  ft.  or  2.73  inches. 

If  in  Figs.  41  and  39  I  endeavor  to  prove  the  subject  matter  of  table 
Fig.  40  by  a  few  simple  algebraic  equations  or  signs  it  is  not  for  the 
purpose  of  rendering  this  subject  more  abstruse  but  rather  to  satisfy 
the  usual  demands  of  simple  mathematics  for  a  proper  "Q.E.D."  —  or 
"which  was  to  be  proved." 

Since  Lou  Dillon  had  the  peculiarity  of  crossing  over  her  fore 
legs,  the  overstep  is  not  so  clearly  distinguishable  on  the  ground  as  it 
is  with  the  trotters  that  have  not  got  that  way  of  going.  In  Fig.  41 -A 
we  see  the  ordinary  form  of  locomotion,  from  which  the  overstep  can 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground 


57 


be  easily  ascertained  for  each  side,  the  off  fore  being  in  line  with  the 
off  hind  and  the  near  fore  in  line  with  the  near  hind. 

FIG.  40. 

TWENTY  OVERSTEPS  OF  HIND  OVER  FORE. 
Average,  6.36. 


NEAR   SIDE 

(o 

<n£ 
<nj 

OFF  S.DB                      Sca&'/n  Jcl  foot. 

Distance 

Distance                                ~           nh          oh 

6.40 

o/i 

W-* 

m 

•T) 

6.65 

1 

6.35 

6-35        ' 

V 

o' 

6.05 

6-75 

n/! 

6.15 

6.70 
6.30 

^0 

-/ 

6.25 
6.30 

6.50 

6.45 

6.40 

on 

fl\ 

5-90 

y 

6-45 

°/ 

O/ 

6.15 

6.  20 

6. 

6.10 
6.  20 

(o 

«/ 

6. 
6.25 

6.40 

6.40 

6.45 

ofi 

_ 

6.35 

6-55 

oj 

o; 

6.25 

6.50 

*J 

6.40 

6-55 

6.45                        -36=  £ 

I     J^ 

L-A  n 

6.70 

m 

??>i 

6.40                                    Of         nf 

6.50 

^0 

72/ 

r         x 

6-75 

J)/5/-  7?/^-/?/r=  6.47  //. 

129.40 

oj 

JJ) 

ZMSA  <?/?  -  or  -  6.25ft: 
T2c  Ot;                         2>/AA  fa*  oversteps  ;.22  ft 
or  2.6+tn. 

6.47 

6.25                      Average  overstep  --6.36ft 

ac  =    act  +   etc 

+  .22 
1975  +  -03=  -2275 

(n 

VO 

n/f 
"/ 

a.b  -     ad.    —    ba. 

ac  -  ccl  -  etc  -\-  60. 
or  2.  73  in. 

Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


In  considering  the  overstep  we  should  remember  that  its  distance 
is  in  a  certain  proportion  to  the  general  average  of  stride,  and  that  the 
greater  the  stride,  the  greater  will  be  the  overstep.  Practice  will 
determine  its  proper  proportion  to  the  stride. 

It  may  be  stated  here  that  with  horses  of  hind  legs  pointing  for- 
ward or  standing  under  excessively,  or  with  fore  legs  pointing  back- 
ward, or  both  fore  and  hind  pointing  in  that  manner,  the  overstep  will 


nf 


^o 

show  an  unnatural  length  even  with  a  short  stride.  In  other  words, 
though  this  calculation  of  overstep  is  not  absolutely  necessary  for  prac- 
tical purposes,  it  gives  an  insight  into  the  locomotion  of  the  trotter  that 
make's  it  clearer  to  the  mind  in  what  way  a  possible  correction  may  be 
attained.  I  do  not  insist  on  a  complete  carrying  out  of  these  calcula- 
tions of  the  measurements,  because  for  practical  purposes  it  may  suffice 
to  ascertain  simply  the  average  stride,  the  distances  of  correlated  feet 
of  Fig.  38,  and  the  extensions  of  legs  as  given  in  table  of  Fig.  37.  If 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  tlie  Ground  59 

the  total  work  of  such  an  investigation,  therefore,  seems  too  much  for 
some  trainers  or  owners  to  bother  with,  the  above  requirements  are 
absolutely  necessary  for  any  comprehension  of  the  subject's  gait.  As 
mentioned  before,  horses  are  apt  to  trot  with  one  foot  ahead  of  the 
other  in  front,  but  such  a  habit  should  call  for  a  like  difference  in  ex- 
tension of  its  correlated  hind  foot  or  that  hind  foot  which  moves  with 
that  fore.  An  analysis  of  the  gait  would  readily  prove  this  fact. 

So  in  this  case  of  Lou  Dillon's,  if  the  off  hind  had  only  lagged,  say, 
one  inch,  and  the  corresponding  near  fore  had  also  lagged  one  inch,  we 
could  pronounce  such  a  gait  as  a  perfect  trot,  because  the  most  im- 
portant condition  of  such  a  perfect  gait  would  have  been  fulfilled. 

This  condition  remains  a  peremptory  demand  for  such  a  perfect 
trot  and  calls  for  an  equality  of  distance  between  the  diagonally  moving 
feet.  Wherever  these  distances,  as  given  in  table  of  Fig.  38,  are  not 
equal  we  must  look  for  the  offending  leg  and  try  the  probable  remedy 
on  the  same.  All  so-called  "rough"  gaits  or  single-footing  or  breaks 
are  due  to  some  over-activity  of  one  leg  and  sluggishness  of  another, 
thus  causing  the  inequality  of  the  distances  between  the  two  pair  of 
correlated  feet,  and  in  establishing  such  defect  we  find  the  probable 
cause  of  disturbance  upon  which  to  base  a  change  in  the  paring  of 
the  foot  or  the  shoeing  of  the  same.  Examples  in  a  later  chapter  will 
make  this  more  clear. 

In  the  computation  of  the  previous  tables  it  has  been  shown  that 
in  order  to  establish  a  correct  agreement  of  one  with  the  other  the 
first  two  measurements  from  one  fore  to  one  hind  should  be  neglected 
and  the  start  should  be  made  with  the  measurement  containing  the  rec- 
ord of  the  stride.  For  instance,  the  measurement  from  near  fore  to 
near  hind  is  in  table  Fig.  34  =  6.40,  which  is  not  considered  in  any 
figuring,  but  the  start  is  made  from  the  two  horizontal  figures  con- 
taining the  first  stride  measurement.  In  these  oversteps  we  therefore 
not  only  neglect  6.40,  but  also  the  second  line,  and  proceed  only  with 
third  line  containing  the  first  stride :  19.30  or  25.70  • —  19.30  =  6.40. 
This  method  has  been  found  to  conform  to  all  proofs  or  verifications ; 
for,  since  we  start  with  the  first  full  stride,  the  start  of  all  other  rela- 
tions should  be  made  with  reference  to  that  first  stride. 


60  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

To  make  this  investigation  complete  it  is  necessary  to  find  the 
actual  positions  of  the  tracks  on  the  ground.  This  manner  of  placing 
the  feet  on  the  ground  or  of  handling  the  legs  while  in  motion  may  be 
termed  lateral  extension.  We  have  just  considered  the  extension  of 
the  horse  as  far  as  its  forward  and  backward  motion  is  concerned. 
Now  we  must  face  the  question  of  the  line  trot  and  its  variations  to- 
inside  and  outside.  The  examination  of  the  impressions  on  the  ground 
is  important  and  should  be  studied  even  if  for  lack  of  time  or  interest 
no  further  measurements  are  taken.  For,  the  manner  of  position 
or  placing  indicates  the  line  or  curve  of  motion  in  which  the  particular 
foot  travels.  In  the  even,  regular  and  energetic  gait,  whether  it  be  the 
trot  or  the  pace,  the  tracks  on  the  ground  should  record  a  firm  and 
clear,  and,  therefore,  brief  and  light,  contact  without  slipping  or  sliding. 
The  foot  lands  squarely  and  stays  where  it  is  put  until  ready  for  the 
supreme  effort  of  propulsion.  Then  it  leaves  the  ground  as  quickly 
and  without  slip  or  slide,  the  impression  showing  no  special  effort  or 
strain.  This  is  really  a  great  characteristic  of  proper  "balance"  and 
the  tracks  on  the  ground  should  be  systematically  examined  so  as  to 
enable  the  intelligent  trainer  or  shoer  to  judge  the  shortcomings  and 
requirements  of  the  gait. 

In  order  to  clearly  understand  the  relative  positions  of  such 
tracks  we  must  have  some  standard  line  by  which  we  can  judge.  It 
suggested  itself  to  me  that  a  line  described  on  ground  by  the  vertical 
plane  bisecting  the  animal  lengthwise  would  be  that  standard  line.  In 
other  words,  if  we  lengthen  down  to  ground  the  upright  plane  contain- 
ing the  center  of  gravity  we  shall  have  a  line  on  both  sides  of  which 
the  tracks  should  be  found  at  equal  distances  from  it.  For  practical 
purposes  we  may  assume  this  line  to  run  midway  between  the  tracks 
of  the  sulky  wheels.  This  line  I  prefer  to  call  the  (( median  line;" 
and  it  should  be  drawn  by  means  of  a  carpenter's  or  mason's  white 
cord  along  the  straightest  part  of  the  trial  to  be  investigated.  Find- 
ing, for  instance,  the  width  of  sulky  wheels  to  be  4  feet  5  inches, 
this  line  should  be  staked  out  with  surveyor's  pins  every  6  to  10  feet 
and  put  2  feet  2^/2  inches  from  the  center  of  either  wheel  track. 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  tJie  Ground  61 

A  slight  curve  may  be  followed  in  line  as  it  exists  in  wheel  tracks 
and  for  practical  purposes  such  a  curve  does  not  affect  the  results 
seriously,  especially  if  another  slight  curve  in  the  opposite  direction  is 
included  in  that  stretch  to  be  measured.  Of  course,  it  always  is  very 
desirable  that  in  every  trial  made  the  horse  should  be  driven  as  straight 
as  possible.  This  cannot  always  be  done  and  we  must  be  satisfied  with 
a  good  average  showing. 

In  Fig.  42  will  be  seen  the  main  features  of  a  cross  section  of  a 
horse  in  motion  hitched  to  a  sulky.  AB  is  the  ground  surface  and 
comprises  the  width  of  sulky  gauge ;  the  circle  above  is  the  body  of  the 
horse  with  center  of  gravity  at  C ;  GH  and  DE  are  perpendicular  lines 
indicating  the  moving  legs  of  said  horse ;  and  MN  is  the  vertical  plane 


A  H  N          £  B 

no  +2 

parallel  with  the  lines  described  by  A  and  B,  and  bisecting  or  cutting 
in  half  said  moving  horse.  .  Judging  from  the  mechanical  accuracy  of 
construction  of  the  sulky,  we  may  safely  assume  that  the  horse  travels 
on  lines  equally  distant  from  the  tracks  left  by  the  wheels  A  and  B, 
and  that  the  median  plane  MN  strikes  the  ground  at  a  point  N  midway 
between  A  and  B.  Therefore,  for  all  practical  purposes  the  averages 
of  the  distances  of  the  tracks  at  E  and  H  should  be  equally  distant 
from  N,  the  median  line  drawn  on  ground  as  suggested. 

These  reasonable  assumptions  or  postulates  are  offered  to  estab- 
lish a  standard  gait  and  a  standard  balance,  for  by  such  a  standard  we 
must  judge  the  deficiencies. 

After  a  trial  over  a  prepared  piece  of  ground  and  after  the  white 
cord  has  been  staked  out  as  the  median  line  between  the  tracks  of  the 


62 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


sulky  wheels,  we  shall  have  the  presentation  of  lines  and  points  in 
question,  as  shown  in  Fig.  43. 


A'      c 

A 

1 

0 

I 

i 

A 

} 

) 

< 

( 

1 
1 

• 

r 
f 

1 

I 

- 

1 

" 

. 

• 

i 
( 

L. 

I 

) 

i 

_c 

> 

• 

N 


In  order  to  find  the  correct  positions  of  the 
four  feet  with  reference  to  this  median  line  MN, 
I  devised  an  instrument,  the  picture  of  which 
appears  in  Fig.  44.  This  track  guage  can  be 
easily  applied  to  each  impression  on  ground, 
and  will  give  both  distances  of  each  foot  from 
median  line  and  direction  or  pointing  of  each 
foot  as  well. 

The  distance  of  each  foot  from  median  line 
should  be  measured  from  the  frog  or  from  a 
point  midway  between  the  heels  of  the  shoe 
as  it  appears  on  ground.  Then  we  shall  have 
a  correct  indication  of  the  pointing  of  the  toe 


Record  of  tJie  Tracks  on  the  Ground 


either  in  or  out.  Any  toeing  in  should  be  designated  as  minus  ( — ), 
and  any  pointing  out  as  plus  (  +  )  ;  and  any  crossing  over  the  median 
line  by  either  near  or  off  feet  should  be  designated  by  minus  ( — ).  The 


N 

/j^ 

/ 

/ 

S 

Wl 

1     1     t     1     1     1 

1     1     1     1     I  te 

'//r 

F 

n 

ok 

// 

x 

0 

nf 

Fi  0.  ^S 

\\ 

/ 

/ 

°  V 

P 

nfj.d 

<a*r 

OU3 

off 

) 

\ 

\ 

T 

1      1      1      1      t      1 

1    1     1     1     1  e 

C  > 

n 

o  J. 

D 

M 

^ 

FIG.  45. 

• 

C 

}n'f 

B  R  —  Indicator  pivoting  at  A. 

1 

' 

R  —  Point  of  toe. 

a  b  —  Crosspiece  at  right  angles  to  B  R 
and  extending  to  quarters. 

n.Jit 

1 

A  —  Thumb-screw   with    sharp    point 
underneath  nridwaybetweeu  heels 

O.fC 

of  shoe. 

X 

A  B  —  Radius  of  arc  O  P,  giving  angle 

x 

of  A  R  with  A  C  (parallel  with 

M  N). 

n 

oh 

M  N  —  Median  line. 

A  F,  C  D  —  Pivoting  at  C  and  A  meas- 
ure equal  distances  from  M  N  at 

v 

o 

nf. 

right  angles. 

nh.Cl 


Ft  0.46. 


N 

feet  therefore  remain  plus  or  over  in  distances  from  median  line  as 
long  as  they  remain  on  the  side  where  they  are  supposed  to  belong; 
and  they  change  to  minus  when  they  cross  over  to  the  opposite  side. 
Such  a  notation  facilitates  finding  the  averages  for  all  four  feet  both 


64  Gait  of  Ike  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

in  distance  and  in  direction.  Again,  it  must  be  emphasized  that  the 
averages  obtained  in  all  these  calculations  indicates  the  animal's  hab- 
itual or  compulsory  mode  of  motion  under  the  conditions  of  such  a 
trial. 

Fig.  45  will  show  the  track  gauge  applied  to  a  track  of  a  shoe, 
which  might  indicate  an  angle  outward  or  plus  (  +  )  of  about  15  de- 
grees, and  a  distance  for  off  fore  of  about  6  inches  or  more.  If  this 
track,  however,  were  that  of  the  near  fore  it  would  not  only  show  that 
the  near  fore  leg  crosses  over,  but  also  that  the  more -natural  toeing 
out  has  given  way  to  a  marked  toeing  in ;  or,  in  other  words,  the  near 
fore  would  show  a  distance  of  — 6  and  a  direction  or  angularity  of 
toe  of  — 15  degrees. 

Perhaps  it  is  just  as  'well  to  illustrate  all  this  by  the  actual  plotting 
or  fixing  of  Lou  Dillon's  tracks.  I  offer  here,  in  Fig.  46,  an  explanatory 
drawing  of  the  tracks  in  part  as  found,  and  along  side  a  presentation 
of  the  fore  feet  as  they  averaged  in  their  lines  of  motion  and  direction. 
When  first  seen  these  tracks  looked  like  those  of  a  pacer,  and,  judged 
from  the  standpoint  of  a  standard  gait,  this  mare  cannot  pass  muster. 
But  she  is  a  study  of  compensations ;  that  is,  of  such  motions  of  legs 
and  feet  as  will  prevent  or  make  improbable  any  interference  of  hind 
with  fore  feet.  This  peculiarity  of  gait  can  be  seen  in  Fig.  35,  where 
the  mare  is  at  full  speed.  The  off  fore  is  coming  from  the  near  side 
and  the  off  hind  is  seen  on  outside  of  off  fore,  and  no  interference 
seems  possible  between  the  legs  on  the  same  side. 

Another  table  is  offered  to  the  reader's  attention  in  Fig.  47,  where 
again  the  various  measurements  made  with  the  track  gauge  for  19 
strides  are  arranged  according  to  fore  and  hind  and  near  and  off  sides, 
and  the  distances  and  angles  of  directions  are  found  in  columns  for  cal- 
culating the  averages.  The  distances  (D)  are  given  in  inches  and 
decimal  fractions  thereof.  The  small  letters  "t"  and  "oh"  or  "ih" 
stand  for  concussions  or  slips  at  toe  (t),  outside  heel  (oh)  or  inside 
heel  (ih)  ;  and  sometimes  "hh"  appears,  which  stands  for  both  heels. 
A  line  under  any  of  these  notations,  such  as  t,  oh,  ih,  hh,  means  an 
intensified  impression  caused  by  undue  concussion  or  by  slipping.  It 
is  well  to  note  these  features  of  the  tracks  and  take  an  average  of 


Record  of  tJi e  Tracks  on  the  Ground  65 

them ;  for,  repetitions  of  any  such  marks  on  ground  indicate  in  part  the 
faults  and  peculiarities  of  gait.  Every  observation  adds  its  mite  to  the 
sum  total  and  completes  the  final  verdict. 

For  the  proper  understanding  of  this  table  a  trotter    with    a 
straighter  direction  of  feet  would  have  been  better  here,  but  the  reader 

FIG.  47- 

DISTANCES  FROM  MEDIAN  LINE  (TO  MIDDLE  OF  FROG)  AND  ANGLES 
WITH  SAME  +  AND  — 


FORE 

HIND 

Near 

Off 

Near 

Off 

D 

Angle            D 

Angle 

D 

Angle 

D 

Angle 

—    1-50 

+     1°        — 

6. 

+     i° 

+  4- 

+  4° 

—     -25 

+     4° 

—  .    2.50 

o         — 

5-50 

3 

6.25 

3 

i. 

6  oh 

—    i. 

0             — 

4- 

3 

3- 

6t 

i. 

6t 

—    1-50 

—     2 

5- 

—  i 

4- 

4t 

•25 

9  t,oh 

—      -50 

—    4 

4-75 

2 

4-75 

5t 

•75 

8  oh 

—    1.50 

—    5 

3- 

3 

3-25 

5t 

2. 

9  oh 

—    3- 

2 

3-25 

—  4 

3- 

7t 

1.25 

10  oh 

—    2.75 

—     2 

3-75 

2 

4-25 

6t 

—     -25 

9  oh 

—      .50 

—    3         — 

6.25 

4 

4-75 

6t 

0 

8  t,oh 

o 

3 

5- 

5 

4-75 

5t 

1.25 

10  oh 

—    1.25 

—    i 

4-5° 

2 

3-50 

s't 

2. 

9  oh 

—    2.25 

—    i 

3- 

—  2 

4- 

3t 

1.50 

7  oh 

—    2.50 

—    4 

4- 

3 

4.50 

4t 

0 

8  oh 

—      -50 

—    4 

5.50 

3 

4-50 

6t 

0 

9  oh 

—    i. 

-    4 

5- 

o 

—  5- 

5t 

—    -5° 

8  oh 

—    i. 

—    3 

5- 

3 

5- 

6t 

0 

6t 

—    1-50 

—    4 

3-5° 

3 

3-50 

5t 

I. 

6  oh 

—    2.75 

5 

2.50 

i 

3- 

7t 

2.50 

9  oh 

—    3- 

—    3         — 

3- 

—  3 

3-50 

6t 

0 

7  oh 

—  30-50 

+    6° 

82.50 

+  37° 

+  78.50 

+98° 

+  14.50 

+  148° 

—  45 

—  10 

—  I. 

—  30-5o 

—  39 

82.50 

+  27 

+  78.50 

+98 

+  13-50 

148 

—    1.6 

—     2°           — 

4-34 

+  1.4° 

+  4.13 

+5-i6° 

+   .71 

+  7-8° 

O 

o 

t 

oh 

break 

over  slightly  on  outside  toes 

toe 

outside  heel 

will  no  doubt  follow  the  explanations  readily.  It  is  necessary  to  resort 
to  a  little  algebra  regarding  the  plus  and  minus  signs  and  the  finding  of 
averages,  but  I  trust  that  this  will  not  deter  anyone  from  studying 
this  table*  The  meaning  of  the  -}-  and  —  signs  has  already  been  ex- 
plained and  in  popular  language  it  might  be  said  that  whenever  the 
foot  goes  in  an  unnatural  direction,  that  is,  when  it  crosses  over  the 


66  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

median  line  or  toes  in,  the  minus  ( — )  sign  indicates  that  tendency 
The  plus  (  +  )  sign  is  used  merely,  therefore,  as  indicating  a  more  or 
less  correct  position  of  foot  on  ground  and  is  generally  understood 
where  not  given.  In  adding  the  plus  and  the  minus  quantities  or 
numerals  separately,  we  are  able  to  get  at  the  sum  total  so  that  we  may 
get  from  it  the  average  by  dividing  with  the  number  of  strides  or  nota- 
tions registered.  It  may  be  well  to  introduce  a  definition  or  corollary 
of  algebra  here  to  understand  the  meaning  of  sum  total.  It  reads  as 
follows : 

"The  sum  of  two  quantities,  the  one  positive  and  the  other  nega- 
tive, is  the  numerical  difference,  with  the  sign  of  the  greater  prefixed." 

If  therefore  the  distance  (D)  of  off  hind,  as  found  in  table,  shows 
a  variation  from  o  to — .50  or  y2  inch  on  left  side  of  middle  line,  and 
from  o  to  2.50  or  2^2  inches  on  its  right  side,  we  find  by  adding  the 
variations  on  right  side  (or  plus)  (+  14.50),  and  also  those  of  left 
side  (•—  i),  the  difference  of  which  is  +13.50,  which  divided  by  19 
will  give  us  the  average,  or  +.71  inch,  or  nearly  y^  inch  on  right  side 
of  middle  line.  It  will  appear  that  this  leg  moves  in  a  closer  position 
as  compared  with  near  hind,  which  shows  a  more  positive  variation 
throughout  and  averages  4.13  inches  to  left  of  middle  line. 

The  pointing  in  and  out  of  foot  as  registered  by  the  angles  found 
with  the  track  gauge  will  further  illustrate  the  above  definition  of  sum 
total.  In  second  column  we  have  +6 — 45,  which  shows  a  difference 
of  — 39;  which  for  19  strides  averages  — 1.6°.  In  the  fourth  column 
we  see  the  off  fore  point  out  or  toe  out  a  total  of  +37°  and  point  in  or 
toe  in  a  total  of  — 10°  ;  the  sum  total  of  which  is  therefore  +27°, 
which,  divided  by  19,  or  total  occurrences,  gives  us  +1.4°.  This  means 
that  off  fore,  in  spite  of  crossing  over  to  near  side  4.34  inches  beyond 
middle  line,  still  toed  out,  or  to  right,  just  a  little,  while  the  near  fore 
crossing  over  to  off  side  1.60  inches  on  right  side  of  and  beyond  middle 
line  toed  in,  or  to  right,  a  little  more. 

The  hind  feet,  having  no  such  crossing  over  motion,  are  more  easy 
to  understand  in  their  directions.  It  is  plain  addition  of  columns  and 
divisions  by  19  occurrences.  We  can  see  readily  that  off  hind  is  being 
more  or  less  dragged  along,  twisting  to  a  greater  .angle  (7.80°)  and 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground  67 

being  planted  down  close  to  the  middle  line  (+.71  in.),  while  the  near 

<- 


o 


near  fi 


near  fore- 


near  fort 


68  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

hind  goes  far  out  (4.13  in.)  and  preserves  a  much  more  reasonable 
toeing  out  (5.16°). 

In  Fig.  48  is  given  a  section  of  actual  distances  and  positions  of 
feet  according  to  the  averages  found.  The  hind  feet  are  respectively 
4.13  in.  (n  h)  and  0.71  in.  (oh)  from  the  median  line  M  N  at  O.  Hav- 
ing found  the  average  distances  of  fore  to  be  negative  quantities,  we 
know  that  such  distances  from  median  line  are  on  opposite  sides,  or 
—4.34  in.  for  off  and  — 1.60  in.  for  near  fore.  The  mare  proves  to  be 
a  line  trotter  of  an  inverted  order,  hind  feet  apparently  following  their 
diagonal  mates,  but  is  by  no  means  a  real  line  trotter  and  is,  moreover, 
a  trotter  of  a  wide  and  open  gait. 

Regarding  the  observations  of  break-over,  or  slide  or  concussion, 
the  fore  show  a  slight  break-over  at  outside  toe,  hardly  worth  noting 
on  table ;  but  the  hind  show  that  compensating  activity  which  two  legs, 
unequal  in  extension,  generally  manifest.  It  will  be  noted  that  while 
off  hind  strikes  outside  heel  and  has  hardly  any  mark  at  toe,  the  near 
hind  shows  the  extra  effort  at  toe,  which  marks  propulsion  of  a  greater 
degree.  We  therefore  note  that  near  hind  makes  an  extra  effort  to 
carry  along  the  off  hind,  which,  by  some  reason  or  other,  fails  to  ex- 
tend forward  sufficiently  and  shows  no  effort  of  propulsion  at  toe. 

Lou  Dillon  in  gait  was  a  freak,  for  without  that  crossing  over  to 
the  extent  of  nearly  6  inches  of  space  between  the  fore  (from  frog  to 
frog)  and  the  slight  outward  action  and  reach  of  hind  feet,  she  could 
not  have  cleared  her  feet  as  remarkably  as  she  did.  Let  me  illustrate 
this  by  Fig.  49,  where  the  feet  are  represented  as  found  on  ground. 
These  are  the  feet  of  one  (near)  side,  which  in  the  trotter  move  al- 
ways against  and  away  from  each  other.  (See  Fig.  22,  etc.)  It  is 
the  same  on  off  side,  of  course.  Now,  there  is  a  moment  when  these 
feet  of  the  same  side  are  either  as  close  together  as  possible  or  cross 
each  other,  as  in  speedy  cutting,  according  to  conformation  and  gait. 
In  this  instance,  however,  such  or  any  interference  seems  almost  im- 
possible, or  rather  improbable,  because  of  the  directions  of  those  fore 
and  hind  feet  on  each  side. 

Fig.  49  shows  such  possible  interference  at  F — A  after  near  fore 
just  left  its  track  (dark  print)  and  near  hind  is  just  about  to  land  on 


Record  of  t lie  Tracks  on  the  Ground  69 

ground  (dark  print)  beyond  it.  Whatever  the  position  of  F  and  A 
during  the  moment  of  their  nearest  approach  (or  passing),  in  this  par- 
ticular case  the  danger  point  is  avoided  by  the  crossing  over  of  fore 
feet.  This  latter  direction  is  the  peculiar  compensation  for  a  powerful 
action  behind  and  without  which  the  ordinary  straight  extension  of 
fore  might  have  proved  an  obstacle  to  extreme  speed.  The  fact  of  her 
record  remains  as  an  indication  of  such  a  clear  gait.  We  cannot  quite 
accept  it  as  a  standard,  though  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  action  of 
the  fore  legs  looked  at  from  the  side  as  shown  in  the  plates  of  Figs.  22 
to  25,  emphasized  the  necessity  of  a  powerful  hind  action  coupled  with 
less  clawing  of  the  air  by  the  fore  than  many  a  fast  trotter  shows. 

Shoes    of  Lou  Dillon^ 

Fore  ' 

u>(Ji?ht  •  6  oz  I  i <5<?c tion 

d/>?/e  =48°  I          f _ 

roi       --  J*//> 


u)ith  leather  paaf 


Hind 

Joz 


—  .      " 

f  /G  . 


concave  fowarat  inside 

O^    liL>//OtV 

Outside  be?/  o  fr/f/e  fon 


Under  the  field  glass  inspection  it  was  a  revelation  to  see  that 
decisive  and  high  hind  action  with  its  wonderfully  divided  backward 
and  forward  extension,  as  well  as  the  direct  and  straight  extension  and 
the  quick  forward  reach  in  front  which  showed  no  wasted  knee  folding 
Therefore,  in  advocating  a  nearer  approach  of  elevation  of  hind  and 
front  action  as  a  help  to  proper  balance  and  absence  of  interference, 
this  mare  can  well  serve  as  a  standard  to  'judge  by.  There  can  not  be 
imagined  greater  harmony  of  motion  between  fore  and  hind  as  she 
presented  it  in  that  trial.  The  shoeing  of  this  mare  was  simple,  as  seen 
in  Fig.  50,  to  which  reference  will  be  made  later. 

More  than  two  years  ago  publication  was  made  against  my  wish 
of  the  results  of  above  trial  and  slight  errors  then  made  in  the  presenta- 
tion of  the  case  have  been  carefully  corrected  now. 


7O  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

From  the  review  of  the  trotting  gait  we  shall  now  pass  on  to  a 
similar  investigation  of  the  pacing  gait.  Fig.  51  presents  the  picture 
of  the  then  5-year  old  bay  mare  Alone,  2  :oo, ]/4)  owned  i>y  T.  W.  Bar- 
stow,  her  breeder,  of  San  Jose,  Cal.  She  is  by  Nearest,  2:22^,  full 
brother  to  John  A.  McKerron,  2:04^,  both  being  by  Nutwood  Wilkes, 
2:i6y2.  Some  years  ago,  this  trial  was  made  through  the  courtesy  of 
Mr.  Barstow,  and  for  a  subject  of  illustrating  the  pace  none  more 
perfect  could  have  been  selected.  Unlike  Lou  Dillon,  Alone  is  a  mare 
1 6.  i  hands  tall  and  of  magnificent  proportions,  a  powerful  and  service- 
able animal  and  of  a  smooth,  low  gait.  During  the  trial  she  paced  a 
2:05  gait;  and  she  has  a  half  mile  record  of  59^  seconds.  Like  Lou 
Dillon,  she  required  practically  no  boots  except  for  protection  at  dan- 
gerous points.  A  small  heel  boot  in  front  and  ankle  boot  behind  was 
her  entire  outfit. 

Unfortunately  only  15  strides  could  be  obtained  instead  of  the 
customary  20,  which  always  necessitates  more  calculations  than  a 
decimal  like  10  or  20  does. 

In  Fig.  52  is  given  the.  appearance  of  the  tracks  of  the  pace. 
While  in  the  trot  the  movement  of  the  feet  on  each  side  is  in  opposite 
directions  and  results  in  the  overstep  of  hind  over  fore,  as  seen  in 
Figs.  40  and  41,  in  the  pace  the  hind  follow  their  anterior  members  on 
the  same  side.  Hence,  in  measurements  as  well  as  in  tables  the  columns 
for  hind  feet  precede  those  for  fore  feet. 

Sticking  the  pin  that  holds  the  end  ring  of  tape  line  into  the  ground 
at  toe  of  near  hind,  we  again  measure  off  100  feet  and  in  a  similar 
note  book  properly  lined  with  pencil  into  columns  for  measurements 
we  enter  the  feet  and  decimals  thereof  as  they  appear  at  toe  of  each 
foot,  taking  care  to  alternate  sides  in  book  as  they  alternate  on  ground ; 
that  is,  in  pairs  of  hind  foot  and  fore  foot. 

Fig.  53  presents  the  results  of  such  measurements  of  the  mare 
Alone.  By  subtracting  alternate  lines  from  each  other  we  obtain  again 
the  strides  for  hind  and  fore,  the  near  side  being  designated  by  the 
letter  "n"  and  the  off  side  by  the  letter  "o." 

As  in  the  analysis  of  the  trot,  we  have  again  three  relative  dis- 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground 


O 

FIG. 

53- 

MEASUREMENT  OF 

TRACKS  IN  FEET  AND  TENTHS 

OF  A 

n 

FOOT  (FROM  TOE  TO  TOE). 

Continuous  Measurements 

starting  with  Near  Hind. 

Hind 

Stride 

Fore 

Stride 

o 

N 

Tr»f»  v^                  «^ 

5-25 

0 

9-55 

— 

*S-°S 

— 

n 

N 

19-15 

i9-!5 

24.00 

18.75 

0 

28.90 

19-35 

34-00 

18.95 

N 

38.45 

19.30 

43.60 

19.60 

0 

48.45 

19.55 

53-35 

19.35 

N 

57-75 

19-30 

62.90 

i9-3r 

O.               0 

67.75 

19.30 

73.10 

19-75 

N 

77-45 

19.70 

82.45 

J9-55 

n       o 

87.20 

19.45 

92.20 

19.10 

N 

97.00 

J9-55 

102.45 

20.00 

o 

107.10 

19.90 

111.90 

19.70 

N 

116.40 

19.40 

121.50 

19.05 

0 

126.65 

19-55 

I3L75 

19.85 

o 

N 

136.20 

19.80 

141.15 

19.65 

0 

146.15 

19.50 

JS^oS 

19.30 

n 

N 

i55.6o 

19.70 

161.05 

19.90 

0 

166.05 

19.90 

170.80 

19-75 

N 

175-55 

19-65 

180.60 

19.55 

0 

185.90 

19.85 

190.95 

20.15 

O            N 

195-45 

19.90 

200.40 

19.80 

()                 0 

205.50 

19.60 

210.65 

19.70 

^                  N 

215-55 

20.10 

220.95 

20.55 

n       o 

225.85 

20.35 

230.65 

20.00 

N 

235-25 

19.70 

240.40 

19-55 

0 

245-9° 

20.05 

251.05 

20.40 

N 

255-50 

20.25 

260.45 

20.05 

o 

0 

265.70 

19.80 

270.65 

19.60 

1  I 

N 

275-55 

20.05 

280.55 

2O.  I  O 

0 

285.90 

2O.2O 

290.80 

20.25 

O 

N 

296.10 

20-55 

300.70 

20.15 

0 

305.45 

19.55 

3IO-65 

19.85 

Tracks  of//>e/>crc<? 

N, 

near  side  ; 

O,  off  side. 

FIG.  $2. 

tances  between  the  feet  which  will  establish  the  peculiarities  of  such 
measurements,  to  wit : 

(1)  The  distance  between  each  pair  of  correlated  feet  or  the 
pair  that  move  laterally  together; 

(2)  The  extension  or  distance  of  one  foot  to  the  other;  that  is. 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


the  distance  from  near  to  off  and  from  off  to  near  (both  fore  and 
hind)  ; 

(3)  The  distance  between  each  pair  or  correlated  feet  moving 
together ;  that  is,  the  distance  between  the  double  and  full  near  ex- 
tension and  the  double  and  full  off  extension. 

To  roughly  calculate  the  average  of  the  15  strides  v/e  take  last 
near  hind  measurement  and  divide  same  by  15,  or  296.10/15  =  19.77 
ft.  As  in  the  trot  this  result  is  not  reliable,  but  will  serve  as  a  quick 
estimate  of  the  length  of  the  average  stride.  The  exact  average  will 
appear  in  next  table  of  fig.  54. 

FIG.  54. 

TWKNTV  STRIDES  AND  VARIATIONS  FROM  AVERAGE  (+  AND  — ). 
Average,  19.72. 

HIND  KORE 


Near 

Var. 

Off 

Far. 

Arear. 

I'ar. 

Off 

Var. 

I9.I5 

—  -57 

19-35 

—  .37 

18.75 

—  -97 

18.95 

—  •77 

19.30 

—  .42 

19.55 

—  .17 

19.60 

—  .12 

19.35 

—  •37 

19.30 

-.42 

19.30 

—  .42 

19.30 

—  .42 

19-75 

+  .03 

19.70 

.02 

19.45 

—  .27 

19-55 

—  .17 

19.10 

—  .62 

19-55 

—  •17 

19.90 

+  .18 

20.  — 

+   .28 

19.70 

—  .02 

19.40 

—  •32 

19.55 

—  -17 

19-05 

-.67 

19.85 

+  .13 

19.80 

+   .08 

19.50 

—  .22 

!9-65 

—  -07 

19.30 

—  .42 

19  70 

—  .02 

19.90 

+   .18 

1990 

+   .18 

19  75 

+  .03 

19  65 

—  .07 

19.85 

+   .13 

1955 

—  .17 

20.15 

+  .43 

19.90 

+   .18 

19.60 

.12 

1980 

+   .08 

19.70 

.02 

20.10 

+  .38 

2035 

+   .63 

20.55 

+   .83 

20.00 

+  .28 

19.70 

.02 

20.05 

+  .33 

19.55 

—  .17 

20.40 

+  .68 

20.25 

+   -53 

19.80 

+  .08 

2005 

+    -33 

19.60 

.12 

20.05 

+   -33 

20.20 

+  .48 

20  10 

+   .38 

20.25 

+   .53 

20.55 

+   .83 

19.55 

—  .17 

20.15 

+  .43 

19.85 

+  -13 

296.  10 

295.90 

295-55 

295  70     ' 

STRIDES 

1974 

19.726 

1970 

19.71 

+      233 
—      2.03 


TOTAI,   VARIATIONS 

2.01  +  2  51 

I.9I  —  2.76 


4-3* 


2.24 
2-34 

4.58 


3.92  5.27 

Fig.  54  will  show  the  strides  of  each  foot  as  it  varies  from  the 
general  average,  the  latter  being  accurately  19.72  ft.  This  is  again 
found  by  dividing  total  footing  or  1183.25  by  15.  Comparing  each 
stride  with  this  average,  we  have  again  the  variations  of  a  greater  or  a 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground  73 

smaller  stride  from  that  average  of  19.72.  Entering  in  the  variation 
columns  the  difference  between  the  actual  stride  and  the  average,  we 
designate  that  difference  with  plus  (  +  )  when  the  stride  is  greater 
than  average,  and  by  minus  ( — )  when  the  stride  falls  short  of  average. 
Again,  we  see  long  and  short  strides  throughout  the  movements  of  the 
legs,  but  they  must  all  conform  to  this  general  average  if  the  gait  is  to 
be  kept  up  as  a  pace.  So  again,  in  spite  of  variations,  the  stride  of 
each  leg  must  be  the  same  or  very  nearly  so.  We  can  not  have  a  long 
stride  in  front  and  a  short  stride  behind,  or  vice  versa ;  but  we  may  find 
greater  variations  in  one  leg  than  in  another,  or  in  the  hind  than  in  the 
fore,  or  vice  versa. 

This  trial  was  not  made  over  an  ideal  piece  of  ground,  the  same 
being  on  outside  of  homestretch  near  grandstand  and  in  rather  loose 
soil.  Moreover,  the  mare  swerved  a  little  to  left,  being  used  to  going 
on  inner  side.  Hence,  the  near  fore  shows  a  little  greater  variation,, 
that  being  the  side  to  which  she  tried  to  get. 

From  experiments  we  have  the  same  rules  as  to  the  indications  of 
variations  as  were  set  forth  in  the  case  of  Lou  Dillon,  namely: 

1 i )  In  fore  legs  the  greater  total  variation  belongs  to,  or  occurs 
in,  the  stronger  leg;  and 

(2)  In  the  hind  legs  the  greater  total  variation  belongs  to,  or 
occurs  in,  the  weaker  leg. 

By  "total  variation"  is  meant  the  entire  scope  of  such  -f-  and  — 
variations  for  those  15  strides;  as  the  figures  under  the  variations  in- 
dicate. This  is  simply  an  ordinary  addition  without  regard  to  the  plus 
and  minus  signs,  which  latter  only  show  the  total  extension  over  and 
below  the  average  stride.  But  if,  furthermore,  we  divide  the  total 
variations  by  15  we  will  obtain  the  tendency  of  each  stride  with  ref- 
erence to  average  stride. 

For  instance,  we  have  approximately : 

Hind  Fore 

Near  Off  Near  Off 

+.155  +-J34  +-167  '4-.I49 

-.135  -.127  -.184  —.156 

+  .02  +.007  .017  .007 


74  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

and  adding  these  averages  by  the  simple  rule  of  algebra,  heretofore 
given,  we  get  the  results  shown  in  footings,  which  mean,  briefly  stated, 
that  hind  feet  exceed  average  slightly  as  compared  with  fore  feet. 
This  seems  to  prove  again  that  there  was  momentarily  an  increase  of 
speed  during  trial,  which  is  always  caused  first  by  slightly  greater  hind 
extension. 

Right  here  I  beg  to  say  a  few  words  to  the  reader  who  may  have 
found  these  minute  details  rather  difficult  or  too  abstruse  for  practical 
purposes.  I  simply  desire  now  to  demonstrate  my  investigation  as 
fully  as  is  possible  for  me  to  do,  but  will  also  assure  the  reader  that 
for  practical  purposes  there  will  appear  in  Chapter  X  only  the  main 
and  most  important  features  of  such  measurements,  from  which  may 
be  got  a  tolerably  fair,  if  not  thorough,  understanding  of  the  subject's 
gait. 

We  can  now  consider  the  extension  of  each  leg  or  foot  with  ref- 
erence to  its  opposite  mate  as  shown  in  table  Fig.  55.  We  must  re- 
member that  in  order  to  establish  a  conformity  of  results  we  should 
start  with  calculations  of  measurements  from  off  to  near  side  on  the 
third  line  of  table  Fig.  53,  using  the  first  three  figures  only  with  ref- 
erence to  the  line  showing  the  first  stride.  In  Fig.  55  there  are  given 
the  extensions,  as  measured  from  one  hind  to  the  other  and  from  one 
fore  to  the  other,  as  follows : 

^S  —  9-55  =  9-6°>  28.90  -—  19.15  =  9.75,  etc. ;  and  24  —  15.05 
=  8-95,  34  —  24  =  10,  etc.,  to  the  end.  (See  Fig.  53.) 

Adding  the  four  columns  thus  found  and  dividing  each  result  by 
the  number  of  strides,  or  15,  we  obtain  the  average  of  extension  of 
each  leg  with  reference  to  its  opposite  member  or  mate.  There  is  a 
difference  of  extension  between  the  hind  of  0.44  ft.  and  between  the 
fore  of  0.34  ft.,  but  these  differences  must  be  divided  by  2,  being  the 
differences  of  two  averages,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  actual  mean  dif- 
ference between  the  extension  of  hind  and  fore. 

Hence  we  find  that  off  hind  precedes  near  hind  by  0.22  ft.,  or  0.22 
X  12  =  2.64  inches,  and  that  off  fore  precedes  near  fore  by  0.17,  or 
0.17  X  12  =  2.04  inches.  This  shows  in  all  a  greater  extension  for 
the  whole  off  side  and  illustrates  my  previous  remark  about  the  prefer- 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground 


75 


•ence  some  horses  have  for  one  side  or  the  other,  and  that  if  such 

FIG.  55. 
TWENTY  DISTANCES  BETWEEN  OPPOSITE  HIND  AND  FORE 

(Near  hind  to  off  hind,  etc.) 
Average,  9.86  (2  X  9-86  =  19.72) 


HIND 

Off  to  Near            Near  to  Off 

\ 

vnh 

\               Off  to 

jn 

FORE 

uV>ar           Near  to  Off 

9.60 

9-75 

oh, 

1n    8-95 

10. 

9-55 

10. 

/ 

-»/  * 
/          9.60 

9-75 

9-30 

10. 

L 

arf           9-55 

IO.2O 

9.70 

9-75 

la 

,nh          9-35 

9-75 

9.80 

10.10 

V 

V         10.25 

9-45 

9-30 

10.25 

9T 

a)         9-60 

10.25 

9-55 

995 

oh, 

^hi        9.40 

9.90 

9-75 

10.15 

/ 

/                      10. 

9-75 

9-50 

10.35 

<\/ 

nj            9.80 

10.35 

9-55 

10.05 

"T 

v"h               9.45 

10.25 

10.05 

10.30 

\ 

\                               10.30 

9.70 

9.40 

10.65 

of 

)f)                            9-75 

10.65 

•9  60 

10.20 

oh 

Mi           94o 

10.20 

9.85 

10.35 

L 

/nf            9>9° 

10.25 

IO.2O 

9-35 

$ 

u            9-90 

jih 

9-95 

144.70 

151.20 

V 

\        145.20 

'  150.40 

964 

10.08 

°J 

)v        9'68 

!    10.02 

Excess 

+  -44 
.44 

=  .22 
2 

ok 

I 

4 

nh 

+  -34 

•34 
Excess    —  =  .17 

2 

difference  of  extension  be  uniform  in  the  correlated  feet,  or  those 
that  move  together,  and  if  it  be  not  excessive  (both  of  which  con- 


76  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

ditions  we  find  in  this  case),  such  small  irregularities  do  not  affect 
the  harmony  of  motion  to  any  extent. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  sum  total  of  hind  averages  in  this  table 
(19.72)  exceeds  that  of  the  fore  averages  (19,70),  which  same  fact 
we  notice  in  table  Fig.  54.  This  illustrates  the  supposition  that  the 
mare  was  slightly  increasing  her  speed  during  those  15  strides 

In  the  language  of  David  Roberge,  there  is  a  marked  "pointing" 
on  the  off  side  of  the  table  of  Fig.  55.  The  mean  difference  between 
the  extension  of  the  off  hind  and  that  of  the  off  fore  is  but  0.05  ft.  or 
0.6  inch,  which  appears  as  the  difference  between  the  distances  of  the 
correlated  feet  in  the  next  figure. 

In  Fig.  56  we  have  again  the  calculations  from  table  of  Fig.  53  by 
means  of  crosswise  subtraction  in  order  to  obtain  the  distances  of  the 
hind  foot  to  the  fore  foot  on  either  side.  We  start  where  the  first 
stride  occurs,  that  is,  on  the  third  line  or  the  near  side,  as  follows: 
24  —  19.15  =  4.85,  34  —  28.90  =  5.10,  and  so  forth  for  the  15  strides. 

The  addition  of  the  columns  in  Fig.  56  and  the  division  of  the 
totals  by  15,  as  seen  on  the  table,  will  result  in  a  difference  of  0.05  ft. 
which  means  that  the  distance  between  the  lateral  feet  on  the  near  side 
is  that  much  greater,  or  exceeds  the  distance  between  them  on  the  off 
side  by  0.6  inch.  Although  such  a  difference  is  an  indication  of  a  slight 
irregularity  of  gait,  it  is  so  small  that  it  may  safely  be  considered  as 
being  negligible.  It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  differences 
in  averages,  be  they  ever  so  small,  point  without  error  to  some  lack  of 
harmony  of  motion  in  the  mechanism  of  the  horse. 

There  is,  as  in  the  trot  so  also  in  the  pace,  another  point  of  view 
to  be  taken  of  the  movements  of  the  feet,  namely,  the  difference,  if 
any,  of  extension  of  one  pair  of  feet  from  the  other  pair  of  feet.  That 
is  to  say,  if  we  take  the  lateral  pair  on  the  near  side  as  a  moving  unit 
and  the  lateral  pair  on  the  off  side  as  a  unit,  the  distance  between  them 
as  they  are  alternately  thrust  forward  would  appear  to  be  the  same. 
It  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  such  distances  are  the  same,  because 
on  such  equal  extensions  of  one  side  to  the  other  depends,  more  or  less, 
the  regularity  and  purity  of  the  gait.  In  the  trot  these  distances  were 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground  77 

designated  as  the  "oversteps,"  because  on  the  ground  the  hind  foot 

FIG.  56. 

DISTANCES  OF  CORRELATED  OR  LATERAL  FEET  (normally  same  on  both  sides) 

Average,  5.03. 


Distance 

I 

nh 

Distance 

4.85 
5-15 

f 

oh 

£. 

5.10 
490 

5-15 

nf 

5-35 

5- 
5-45 

£ 

nh' 

5- 
4.80 

5.10 
4-95 
5-15 

<>/ 

oh 

X 

5.10 
4-90 

4-75 

5-05 

(D 

nf 

5-05 

4-95 

1 

nh 

5-15 

5-40 

4.80 

5-15 
4-95 

oh 

xi 

5.15 
4-95 

5- 
4.60 

£ 

^ 

4.90 
5-20 

75.50 

75-10 

5-06 

<tf 

<p 

5.01 

+  .05 

oh 

A 

Fig.  55  :.22  —  .17  =  .05 

X 

nf 
nh 

overstepped  the  fore  foot  on  the  same  side.    Now,  in  the  pace  this  dis- 
tance between  these  pairs  of  feet  is  found  between  fore  and  hind  of 


78  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

opposite  side,  as  shown  in  Fig.  58.  These  distances  are  easily  com- 
puted by  subtracting  each  hind  foot  measurement  from  that  of  oppo- 
site fore  on  line  below,  as  seen  on  table  of  Fig.  53.  For  instance, 
starting  on  second  line  and  taking  off  fore  or  15.05  from  near  hind  or 
19.15,  we  have  4.10  for  the  distance  from  off  pair  to  near  pair  of  cor- 
related feet.  Again,  continuing  from  next  near  fore  to  off  hind,  we 
have  28.90  —  24  =  4.90,  or  the  distance  from  near  pair  to  off  pair  of 
correlated  feet.  After  placing  these  differences  in  the  columns  as  ex- 
plained in  table  of  Fig.  58,  we  again  proceed  to  add  the  15  records  and 
divide  by  15  to  obtain  the  average  of  each  side  and  by  30  to  get  the 
general  average  of  4.82. 

Again,  we  obtain  the  same  proof  of  extensions  and  find  that  whole 
off  side  extension  is  greater  than  that  of  near  side  by  0.39  or  0.40  ft.,  or 
about  4.68  inches.  In  Figs.  57  and  59  a  few  simple  methods  of  geome- 
try and  algebra  have  been  employed  to  illustrate  the  subject  in  ques- 
tion and  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  simple  mathematics,  besides  meas- 
urements, for  a  proper  proof. 

To  this  investigation  of  Alone's  gait  I  may  add  a  few  remarks 
regarding  her  action  and  manner  of  going.  She  had  good  feet  and  was 
shod  as  given  in  Fig.  60.  She  was  driven  a  very  fast  clip,  better  than 
her  record  gait.  Having  a  low  action,  one  could  not  realize  her  speed. 
Her  tracks  were  firm  and  light,  and  without  absolutely  any  indication 
of  slipping  or  sliding  or  concussion.  For  a  large  mare  (16.1  hands  — 
J 200  Ibs.)  her  motion  was  remarkably  rapid  and  smooth. 

The  distance  from  one  side  to  the  other  (4.82),  or  the  "overstep" 
•o'f  the  trot,  was  comparatively  short  for  the  speed  she  was  going  at 
and  argues  for  rapid  movements  of  limbs.  Comparing  this  dis- 
tance with  distance  of  lateral  feet  (5.03)  shows  that  she  had  length  in 
proportion  to  her  size.  Her  stride  (19.72)  was  certainly  good  for  her 
quick  motion  and  low  action.  As  compared  with  Lou  Dillon,  there 
was  less  of  that  tremendous  reach  of  hind  legs  and  less  pointing  back 
of  fore  legs,  both  of  which  accounts  for  the  greater  overstep  (6.36) 
and  closer  distance  of  correlated  feet  or  pairs  of  diagonal  feet  (3.26) 
in  Lou  Dillon's  gait.  But  for  that  preference  to  off  side,  Alone's 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground 


79 


gait  is  a  better  example  of  regular  motion  combined  with  high  speed 
than  Lou  Dillon's  gait  was  at  that  time  after  her  greatest  days. 


FIG.  57 


b 

2.04-in. 
a 


nf 


d 

"CT1 

nh     on 

.  nh  -  nf-  5.06 
D /'$/".  oh  ~  of  -  5.01 
Diff .  bef  pairs -.os 
or  .6  in 


Average, 

a  c  =    ad 
~bd 


dc 

ad  +  a.b 


dc.  -ab 


FIG.  58. 

20  distances  between  op- 
posite pair  of  feet  from 
one  side  to  the  other. 
Average,  4.82. 


F/6.59. 


Disf.nf-oh    -  5.02  // 
.  of  -r>h    -  4.62  ft 
DiFF  bef  opp  pairs-jo  ff- 
or       +.8  in 


.39 ft 
or   +.68  in 


8o  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

In  both  of  these  cases  I  had  no  direct  data  regarding  the  shoeing, 
but  in  later  chapters  experiments  with  shoeing  will  show  not  only  the 
absolute  necessity  of  the  greatest  accuracy  in  shoeing,  but  also  the 
telling  effect  of  slight  changes  in  hoof  and  shoe.  The  necessity  of 
having  the  distance  between  the  legs  that  move  together  the  same  will 
perhaps  be  self-evident.  In  Fig.  38  we  found  a  difference  of  0.173  ft., 
or  2.07  inches ;  while  in  Fig.  56  there  is  only  a  difference  of  0.06  ft.,  or 
nearly  £4  inch.  While  such  a  discrepancy  may  be  covered  up  by 
speed  and  a  few  extra  revolutions  of  the  legs,  yet  there  is  always  this 
disturbing  element  in  the  gait  that  will  tell  in  the  speed  for  a  whole 
mile.  Only  when  such  discrepancy  is  revealed  by  an  investigation  such 
as  this  can  we  proceed  toward  a  remedy. 

Shoes  of  Alone 

*'" 
7o&  across  foe. 


narrow  nm  .1 
outside  heel* 


The  final  requirement  for  the  completion  of  this  analysis  of  Alone's 
gait  will  be,  as  with  Lou  Dillon,  the  actual  position  of  the  tracks  with 
reference  to  lateral  or  side  extension.  There  is  generally  much  con- 
fusion about  the  lines  of  motion  or  the  curves  described  by  one  foot 
from  one  track  to  its  next  one.  David  Roberge  has  demonstrated,  or 
rather  had  laid  down,  the  rule  of  "pointing"  as  always  offering  a  solu- 
tion of  these  directions  of  feet.  He  says :  "It  may  be  stated,  as  an 
invariable  rule,  that  an  animal's  right  or  wrong  way  of  standing  is 
carried  out  in  action,  whether  it  be  slow  or  fast."  (P.  99,  The  Foot 
of  the  Horse.) 

Lou  Dillon  pointed  backward  a  little  with  fore  legs,  but  her  hind 
legs  stood  nearly  straight ;  while  Alone  pointed  back  a  little  with  fore 
and  forward  with  hind,  or  stood  slightly  under  with  both  extremities. 
It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Alone,  with  a  longer  base  (5.03  ft.) 
between  the  two  pair  of  legs  than  Lou  Dillon  (3.26  ft.),  should  have  the 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground  81 

average  distance  from  one  pair  of  legs  to  the  other,  or  from  one  side 
to  the  other,  only  4.82  ft.,  while  Lou  Dillon  shows  6.36  ft.  This  may 
be  explained  by  the  difference  in  elevation  and  rapidity  of  action. 
While  the  trotting  mare  has  a  sweeping  and  comparatively  high  action, 
with  special  development  of  hock  movement,  the  pacing  mare  has  a 
more  rapid  and  lower  action.  The  greater  stride  of  Alone  (19.72  ft.) 
than  that  of  Lou  Dillon  (19.24  ft.)  should  really  show  the  greater  dis- 
tance between  pairs  of  legs,  if  the  action  were  the  same.  In  my  opinion 
the  action  of  the  trotting  mare  is  more  favorable  to  a  continued  effort 
at  high  speed  than*  that  of  the  pacing  mare. 

With  Lou  Dillon  her  fore  feet  were  straight  in  direction  while  at 
rest,  and  her  hind  toed  out  slightly.  The  hind  while  in  motion  spread 
apart  somewhat,  but  the  crossing  over  of  fore  could  not  be  suspected 
from  their  position  at  rest.  She  is,  however,  an  exception  or  a  freak 
in  gait.  With  Alone  we  come  nearer  to  Roberge's  rule.  Her  hind 
toed  in  perceptibly,  while  of  her  fore  the  near  was  more  straight  than 
the  off  when  pointing  at  rest.  In  the  subsequent  table,  Fig.  62,  we 
may  see  this  by  the  results ;  but  it  should  be  remembered  that  there  was 
a  slight  swerve  to  left,  and  this  evidently  caused  the  pointing  out  of 
near  fore,  as  well  as  produced  a  straight  direction  or  pointing  of  off 
fore. 

All  this  pointing  may  be  natural  or  it  may  be  due  to  faulty  paring 
of  hoof  or  to  careless  shoeing.  To  a  certain  extent  faulty  pointing 
may  be  corrected  by  paring  and  shoeing  combined,  as  we  shall  see  later. 

As  in  Fig.  47,  so  in  the  case  of  this  pacing  mare,  measurements 
were  taken-  by  means  of  the  track  gauge  with  reference  to  a  median 
line,  or  a  string  stretched  in  the  middle  between  sulky  wheel  tracks 
and  running  parallel  to  these.  This  line  is  staked  out  carefully  by 
means  of  surveyor's  pins  and  must  follow  any  little  deviation  to  right 
or  left  with  the  wheel  tracks.  As  a  condition  for  such  measurements 
it  is  required  that  the  horse  be  driven  as  straight  as  possible,  but  since 
an  absolutely  straight  line  is  seldom  obtained,  we  can  depend  on  fairly 
accurate  results  even  if  there  are  slight  curves  to  right  and  left.  The 
curves  really  compensate  each  other,  and  if  the  trial  contains  one  of 
each  of  about  the  same  magnitude  one  will  offset  the  other  in  the 


82 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


measurements.  We  should,  however,  avoid  one  curve  to  right  or  to 
left  only,  for  this  will  throw  the  measurements  out  either  to  right  or 
left.  In  Alone's  case  there  was  a  swerve  to  left  which  threw  the  near 
hind  in  and  the  near  fore  out.  It  was  all  due  to  her  endeavor  to  go 
from  oiitside  of  track  to  inside,  where  she  was  accustomed  to  speed ; 
but  even  with  that  faulty  line  of  direction  we  are  able  to  see  with 
sufficient  clearness  the  directions  of  the  four  feet  of  a  pacer.  Even 
with  the  conditions  of  a  trial  of  this  sort  we  must  strike  a  general 
average,  because  ideal  conditions  do  not  always  prevail. 

FIG.  62 
DISTANCE  FROM  MEDIAN  LINE  (TO  MIDDLE  OF  FROG)  AND  ANGLES 

WITH  SAME  (  +   AND  — ) 


HIND 

FORE 

Near 

Off 

Near 

Off 

D 

Angle 

D 

Angle 

D 

Angle 

D 

Angle 

0 

-    3° 

4-  2 

—    4 

+     2.50 

4-    4°         4- 

°    2.50 

—   2- 

—    1-75 

—    5 

2  75 

—    5 

•  50 

—    4 

3-50 

—     2 

—    1.50 

^_            ^ 

I. 

—    4 

1.75 

4 

i  75 

2 

o* 

—    3 

0 

—    4 

3-50 

5         — 

•  50 

3 

3-25 

—    3 

—  350 

—    6 

6. 

4         — 

3- 

5 

525 

3 

—  3.25 

—    4 

750 

6         — 

3.50 

—    5 

3- 

—   4 

—    .50 

—    3 

5-50 

5 

0 

—     2 

•  50 

—    3 

•50 

—    5 

3- 

5 

1.50 

—    3 

•  5° 

—    3 

I. 

—    5 

2.50 

6 

i. 

—    3 

L     t       -r 

~    3 

1.50 

—    4 

3- 

6 

1.50 

—     2 

4-  12.50 

-33° 

4-8.75 

-44° 

4-  35.75 

4-45          4- 

H.75 

4-    7 

—    4.25 

—  7-25 

—    4         — 

7- 

—  22 

4-    8.25 

-33° 

4-  1.50 

-44° 

4-  35-75 

4-41           4- 

4-75 

—  15 

[+    .825 

-3-3° 

4-    .15 

-4-4° 

4-  3575 

4-    4.1°     4- 

•475 

—  1.5° 

*  Swerved  to  left  slightly. 

In  Fig.  62  there  are  recorded,  therefore,  the  measurements  of  the 
stretch  of  ground  containing  10  contacts  for  each  of  the  four  feet,  that 
being  the  best  part  of  that  trial  for  this  final  test  of  lateral  extension. 

In  the  total  of  near  hind  we  have  again  positive  and  negative 
measurements ;  that  is  to  say,  we  found  middle  of  frog  by  the  gauge 
to  be  on  left  of  median  line — or  where  it  belongs  by  nature — with  a 
total  of  +12.50  inches,  and  on  the  right  side  of  median  line  with  a 
total  of  — 4.25.  Adding  these  figures  and  dividing  by  10,  the  total  num- 
ber of  contacts,  we  obtain  the  average  of  these  deviations  from  median 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground  85 

line.    Again  remembering  the  simple  definition  or  corollary  of  algebra, 
The  sum  of  two  quantities,  the  one  positive  and  the  other  nega- 


viz 


tive,  is  the  numerical  difference  with  the  sign  of  the  greater  prefixed ;" 
we  have  +8.25  inches  for  the  total  and  +0.825  inches  for  the  average 
lateral  extension  to  the  left  on  the  part  of  near  hind.  In  the  same 
manner,  as  given  in  Fig.  62,  we  obtain  off  hind  as  being  -{-0.15  inches 
on  its  natural  side,  or  to  right  side  of  median  line.  The  near  fore 


*  *  ' 


FIG.  63 


being  altogether  on  left,  or  its  positive  side  of  median  line,  we  get  the 
average  of  3.57  inches  on  near  side ;  and  for  the  off  fore  we  again 
have  a  total  on  its  right  or  positive  side  of  11.75  inches  and  a  total  on 
its  left  or  negative  side  of  — 7  inches,  which  added  as  above  gives  us 
-{-4.75  inches  for  total  result,  or  +0.475  inches  for  the  average  lateral 
extension  to  its  right  or  positive  side. 

With  the  totals  of  the  angles  of  pointing  in  or  out,  the  same  cal- 
culations can  be  made,  and  we  have  the  toeing  in  of  both  hind  abso- 


84  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

lutely  without  deviation  and  to  the  toeing  out  of  near  fore  to  the  extent 
of  an  average  of  4.1°,  as  well  as  the  slight  toeing  in  of  off  fore  to  the 
extent  of  an  average  of  — 1.5°. 

Perhaps  it  is  well  to  bring  before  the  reader  again  the  application 
of  the  track  gauge,  and  Fig.  63  presents  the  average  measurement  of 
near  hind.  We  have  here  placed  the  gauge  with  its  sharp  point  at  A 
in  middle  between  heels  and  set  the  distance  found  from  A  to  S  (0.825 
inches,  approximately  24  inch)  at  C  to  T.  Then  swinging  BR  till  R 
passes  through  point  of  toe,  with  little  cross  piece  a  b  dividing  quar- 
ters into  equal  parts  so  as  to  locate  point  of  toe  more  readily,  we  read 
off  the  indicator  at  B  on  arc  O  P  as  giving  3.3°.  Since  foot  is  point- 
ing in  or  toward  median  line,  its  direction  or  angularity  is  negative 
and  thus  indicated  by  — 3.3°.  Of  course,  this  track  may  be  one  of  a 
foot  on  off  side,  in  which  case  the  distance  becomes  negative,  or  — 0.825 
inches,  because  it  is  on  opposite  side  of  median  line ;  and  its  angularity 
would  become  positive  or  +3.3°,  because  the  pointing  of  off  foot  is  in 
this  case  an  outward  one,  or  to  the  right,  its  more  natural  direction. 

Taking  the  average  results  as  found  in  Fig.  62  and  laying  them 
out  on  a  line  at  right  angles  with  the  median  line,  as  in  Fig.  64,  we 
obtain  an  idea  of  the  average  lines  of  direction  and  of  the  angularity 
of  each  foot.  This  represents  the  actual  positions  and  distances  ac- 
cording to  averages  found. 

In  Fig.  65  are  found  the  actual  condition  of  the  position  of  feet, 
as  given  in  Fig.  64,  and  also  a  probable  condition  if  swerve  to  left  in 
trial  had  not  taken  place.  The  two  pairs  of  feet  are  placed  alongside 
of  each  other  to  facilitate  comparisons. 

Right  here  I  may  draw  attention  to  a  marked  difference  between 
the  positions  of  hind  feet  in  relation  to  fore  feet.  In  pacers  there  is  a 
tendency  to  travel  closer  behind  than  in  front,  while  in  the  trotter 
there  is  an  inclination  of  traveling  wider  behind  than  in  front.  While 
Lou  Dillon's  gait  can  not  represent  a  standard  gait,  all  other  investi- 
gations with  trotters  and  pacers  have  revealed  this  peculiarity.  In 
fact,  Lou  Dillon's  gait  is  the  extreme  of  such  an  inclination  when  one 
considers  that  the  crossing  over  of  fore  really  means  an  extreme,  or 
becomes  a  negative,  approach  of  fore. 


Record  of  the  Tracks  on  the  Ground  85 

Alone  wore  practically  no  boots.  She  had  only  a  heel  boot  in 
front  and  an  ankle  boot  behind.  Lou  Dillon  likewise  needed  little  or 
no  protection,  a  heel  or  a  bell  boot  in  front  and  a  shin  boot  behind. 
While  the  trotting  mare  exhibited  a  marvelous  but  not  excessive  action, 
the  pacing  mare  showed  the  action  apparently  best  suited  to  that  gait — 


r/o.ef 


N 


• 

.IS 

ok 

of 

tnf 
[w» 

n  h    A 
825    \                         o 

I 

fa 

*                                                                                                                                                            4 

v<<                  /.«- 

\-^<  v 

N 


of 

T) 


FIG.  65 


rapidity  and  low  elevation — and  while  there  was  a  highly  developed 
hock  action  in  the  trotting  mare  or  an  approximate  equality  between 
fore  and  hind  action,  the  pacing  mare  showed  the  more  usual  and  less 
elevated  action  of  hock  movements. 

The  trot  and  the  pace  are  built  more  or  less  on  similar  lines  of 
motion,  and  their  comparison  will  reveal  the  fact  that  there  are  certain 


86  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

common  principles  or  laws  pertaining  to  the  rapid  locomotion  of  the 
trotter  and  the  pacer  that  may  be  said  to  give  us  a  certain  standard 
form  of  locomotion.  Taking  it  all  in  all,  therefore,  the  average  or 
standard  gait  of  either  should  result  in  the  greatest  symmetry  of 
action,  together  with  the  greatest  economy  of  energy  and  the  greatest 
speed.  It  is  true  that  there  will  always  be  horses  that  have  their  own 
way  of  going  apparently,  and  this  may  be  due  to  a  peculiar  develop- 
ment and  conformation.  Their  defects  are  often  entirely  offset  by 
muscular  and  structural  compensations.  In  all  such  cases,  however,, 
the  locomotion  must  be  along  lines  of  directness  and  symmetry ;  other- 
wise theVe  would  always  be  a  lack  of  balance  and  of  speed. 

This  method  of  investigating  a  gait  will  at  all  times  give  us  a 
clearer  idea  of  such  modes  of  motion,  and  therefore  enable  us  to  cor- 
rect any  unevenness  of  gait  all  the  more  readily.  In  the  small  manual 
books,  which  I  intend  to  offer  for  that  purpose,  this  method  is  set 
forth  in  a  more  concise  form,  and  they  would  materially  help  the  in- 
vestigator in  getting  at  the  truth  of  an  irregular  or  peculiar  gait.  . 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE  REQUISITES  OF  PERFECT  BALANCE. 


I. — THE  CONSTANT  SHAPE  OF  HOOF. 

David  Roberge  tells  us  that  the  foot  of  the  horse  "points  in  the 
direction  of  the  elevated  part  of  the  foot."  His  remarks  deserve  to  be 
quoted : 

"The  foot  which  enjoys  perfect  equilibrium  to-day  will  have  lost 
a  portion  of  that  equilibrium  by  to-morrow,  and  this  law  goes  on  in- 
creasing every  day  until  the  overgrowth  of  horn  has  destroyed  the 
horse's  due  balance  so  that  he  can  neither  stand  nor  travel  at  ease ;  thus 
showing  that  this  extra  growth  of  horn  requires  trimming  and  paring 
very  frequently  in  order  to  preserve  the  balance  which  results  from 
the  maintenance  of  the  proper  size  and  proportions  of  the  hoof." 

"Any  increase  or  surplus  growth  of  the  hoof,  whether  at  the  toe 
or  at  the  heels  or  the  sides  of  the  foot,  will  cause  the  horse  to  point 
with  his  foot  in  the  direction  of  the  elevated  portion  of  the  foot.' 
Whether  it  be  with  the  toe  of  the  hoof  or  the  toe  of  the  shoe,  he  will, 
invariably  point  in  that  direction."  (P.  14.) 

The  author  says  elsewhere :  "*  *  *  the  normal  condition  of  the 
foot  and  leg  and  the  harmony  of  movement  while  in  motion  depend 
absolutely  upon  the  perfect  equilibrium  of  the  foot."  (P.  22.) 

Roberge  called  his  principles  a  theory.  The  term  is  misleading, 
inasmuch  as  it  often  is  used  as  the  opposite  of  practice.  His  theory  has 
the  deeper  and  more  scientific  meaning  of  an  exposition  of  certain 
principles  upon  which  certain  practical  results  or  facts  are  founded. 
By  seeking  for  a  common  cause  of  the  difficulties  of  balancing  and  of 
the  facts  observed  by  him,  he  endeavored  to  place  shoeing  upon  some 
scientific  basis  and  thus  eliminate  from  it  the  mystery  of  chance.  His 

87 


88  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

theory  of  pointing  is  such  an  explanation  of  facts.  It  was  the  first 
rational  effort  to  evolve  a  definite  meaning  of  "balance,"  and  to  de- 
prive balancing  of  the  element  of  luck  and — ignorance.  His  theory  of 
pointing  is  not  sufficiently  understood,  I  believe,  and  because  I  was 
eager  to  demonstrate  what  he  simply  stated  from  his  long  experience 
and  convincingly  based  on  principles,  I  set  out  on  the  present  investi- 
gation of  the  two  gaits. 

Too  much  importance  has  always  been  laid  on  the  weight  and 
shape  of  shoes.  It  was  never  sufficiently  recognized  that  balance  was 
not  altogether  in  the  shoe.  Shoeing  is  always  a  necessary  evil,  and  the 
bare  foot  is  the  best  shod  foot,  unless  we  take  careful  notice  of  the 
hoof  and  its  continual  growth.  The  intelligent  shoer  of  to-day  must 
be  able  to  do  as  much  with  the  rasp  to  effect  balance  as  with  the  mak- 
ing of  a  shoe.  No  better  authority  could  be  given  to  him  than  the 
reasoning  contained  in  this  theory  of  pointing.  It  is  not  impracticable, 
but  is  itself  a  line  of  principles  applicable  to  all  conditions  and  explain- 
ing facts  previously  found. 

Before  going  into  demonstrations  of  the  effects  of  paring  and 
shoeing  the  hoof,  I  wish  to  call  attention  to  the  equally  sound  and  sci- 
entific theory  of  paring  the  sole  and  rim  of  that  hoof.  He  says:  "At 
the  point  of  union  of  the  wall  with  the  sole,  there  is  a  line  of  whitish 
horn  which  might  be  called  the  line  of  safety.  The  rule  then  is  that 
every  horse's  foot  should  be  cut  down  to  this  line  of  safety  before 
having  a  shoe  applied  to  it." 

As  to  the  proper  size  of  hoof  a  horse  should  normally  have,  he  is 
again  as  positive  in  language,  namely: 

"The  white  line  that  marks  the  junction  of  the  sole  and  the  wall 
shows  precisely  the  size  each  horse's  foot  ought  to  be,  other  things 
being  equal"  (p.  56),  and  "all  horn  projecting  beyond  the  line  of  union 
of  sole  and  wall  should  be  removed."  (P.  58.) 

This  is  the  fundamental  principle  of  a  sound  foot,  and  the  keeping 
of  that  horny  box  in  a  rational  shape  cannot  help  being  the  funda- 
mental principle  of  balance.  It  is  hard  to  convince  the  "long  toe  man" 
of  the  strain  of  the  leverage  from  heel  to  toe,  and  the  idea  is  retained 
that  with  each  stride  the  long  toe  registers  half  an  inch  or  an  inch 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Balance  89 

gained.  This  is  poor  reasoning,  for  we  deal  with  animal  locomotion 
where  energy  is  the  fuel.  The  greater  the  leverage  at  toe  the  greater 
the  energy  expended,  and  the  greater  the  energy  expended  the  less 
likely  can  an  increase  of  speed  or  of  stride  be  expected.  Granted  even 
that  a  stride  is  thereby  made  a  half  inch  longer,  it  does  not  follow  that 
with  an  enforced  greater  energy  the  horse  will  maintain  a  greater 
speed  for  the  given  distance ;  nor  is  it  true  that  such  increased  leverage 
at  toe  will  cause  greater  rapidity  of  action. 

In  fact,  we  know  by  practice  and  experience  that  squared  toes  in- 
crease action  and  rapidity  of  motion  at  the  expense  of  extension,  such 
as  is  shown  by  the  same  foot  with  a  round  toe  and  under  the  same 
conditions.  There  is  an  exact  proportion  between  speed,  length  of 
toe  and  energy  which  might  well  be  expressed  by  saying  that  the  longer 
the  toe  the  greater  the  amount  of  energy  necessary  to  acquire  the  same 
speed,  and  the  easier  the  leverage  at  the  toe  the  less  will  be  the  energy 
required  to  maintain  that  speed.  Rapidity  of  action  or  motion,  it  may 
be  argued,  requires  as  much  and  more  of  that  energy 'than  the  long 
sweeping  stride.  It  is  the  initial  effort,  however,  which  overcomes  the 
resistance  of  the  leverage  of  toe,  or  of  the  length  of  the  lever  repre- 
sented by  the  ground  surface  of  foot  from  heel  to  toe,  that  constitutes 
the  greatest  strain  and  hence  the  greatest  initial  energy.  And  again, 
the  greatest  amount  of  energy  during  action  is  spent  in  the  effort  of 
propulsion,  and  this  effort  is  entirely  placed  at  the  toe  of  the  foot. 

Therefore  it  has  always  seemed  almost  criminal  to  me  for  any 
man,  be  he  trainer  or  owner,  to  neglect  the  ever-growing  hoof,  whether 
same  be  on  a  horse  he  works  or  on  one  he  has  turned  out  to  pasture. 
In  any  well  regulated  business  records  are  kept  of  incidents,  prices  or 
figures  of  previous  years  and  of  various  matters  for  comparison  with 
similar  data  of  every  month  as  it  passes.  Why  should  therefore  the 
business  of  shoeing,  that  which  preserves  balance,  be  left  to  an  im- 
perfect memory  and  to  guess  work  ? 

If  the  foot  has  a  certain  frontal  length,  say  3  inches,  from  tip  to 
coronet,  and  the  angle  which  sole  and  heels  make  with  this  frontal  sur- 
face at  toe  is  49°  and  the  horse  is  well  balanced,  why  is  this  not  made 
part  of  a  record  of  shoeing  besides  the  weight  and  shape  of  shoes? 


go  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

Why  do  we  hear  everything  about  the  ounces  the  shoes  weigh  and 
nothing  of  the  length  of  toe  and  angle  of  foot?  Is  it  not  reasonable 
to  suppose  that  having  once  established  the  conditions  necessary  for  a 
balance,  that  these  same  conditions  of  length  of  toes  and  angle  of  foot 
would  bring  about  the  same  balance  at  the  next  shoeing?  These  same 
conditions  prescribing  the  former  length  and  angle  of  toe  will  show 
definitely  how  much  of  the  hoof  is  to  be  rasped  off.  There  is  no  error 
possible  where  a  businesslike  record  is  kept.  There  is  no  guess  work 
possible  either.  Were  such  a  record  kept  from  one  shoeing  to  another 
of  the  length  of  toe,  of  its  angle  with  heels  or  sole  surface,  of  the  size, 
weight  and  shape  of  shoes  and  of  their  application,  the  horse  would 
have  a  chance  to  improve  himself  instead  of  being  thrown  off  his  gait 
by  an  approximate  guess  and  approximate  work.  Were  exact  methods 
employed,  the,  gait  would  not  suffer,  but  would  be  more  firmly  estab- 
lished, or  if  in  spite  of  this  there  would  appear  any  irregularity  the 
method  of  simple  measurements  as  here  offered  would  reveal  the  fault 
and  indicate  the  remedy.  The  prevalent  superstition  of  "leaving  well 
enough  alone"  and  all  its  attendant  mysterious  guess  work  has  done 
the  greatest  harm  to  the  proper  balance  of  the  horse.  To  the  toe  of 
the  previous  shoeing  is  added  or  left  some  more  toe  because  the  horse 
was  moving  well.  Then  at  a  subsequent  shoeing  some  more  toe  is 
left,  because  it  seems  good  to  "leave  well  enough  alone."  All  at  once 
something  happens,  or  speed  is  lost,  and  off  comes  the  toe  again.  In 
all  these  operations  no  heed  is  given  to  the  angle  of  the  foot.  It  is 
lowered  indiscriminately  as  the  toe  is  lengthened  and  the  leverage  at  toe 
is  greatly  increased  thereby.  The  energy  of  the  animal  is  overtaxed 
and  the  ease  of  motion  ceases.  Harmony  of  action  is  destroyed,  and  if 
speed  is  not  diminished,  the  gait  is  apt  to  be  of  the  "get-there-anyhow" 
style. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  many  horses  have  their  own  peculiar  gait, 
and  we  may  therefore  be  obliged  to  conform  our  endeavors  of  im- 
provement to  the  limitations  of  that  particular  gait.  But  as  a  rule  the 
kind  of  trot  or  pace  that  is  productive  of  great  speed  with  ease  is  largely 
the  result  of  following  those  principles  of  motion  given  in  a  previous 
chapter.  That  means  a  rational  development  of  an  ideal  trot  or  pace. 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Balance  91 

Such  a  procedure,  however,  does  not  imply  that  horses  are  to  be  shod 
or  balanced  according  to  a  preconceived  plan  to  which  they  are  sup- 
posed to  accommodate  themselves.  This  would  be  the  method  of  per- 
sistent repetition,  with  its  inherent  make-or-break  policy.  It  is  like 
fitting  round  pegs  into  square  holes  or  square  pegs  into  round  holes. 
In  no  such  spirit  is  it  urged  here  to  conform  to  ideals  of  motion  or  gait 
by  any  such  means. 

We  may  have  to  force  the  subject  to  abandon  certain  habits  if 
conformation  allows,  but  in  order  to  do  so  intelligently  we  must  have 
a  definite  knowledge  of  the  gait  and  a  definite  understanding  of  the 
effects  of  certain  changes. 

In  other  words,  a  study  of  the  compensations  in  the  make-up  of  a 
gait  would  enable  us  to  strike  as  good  an  average  for  the  movements 
and  for  the  speed  of  the  subject  as  the  make-up  of  the  subject  would 
allow.  The  analysis  offered  in  ,the  previous  chapter  gives  just  such  a 
definite  knowledge  of  the  matter  under  investigation.  From  it  can  be 
derived  that  definite  plan  by  which  the  gait  can  be  ascertained  at  all 
times  and  from  which  such  improvements  could  be  followed  as  would 
tend  to  perfect  that  gait.  Or  again,  if  under  such  an  exact  method  no 
definite  improvement  in  gait  and  speed  could  be  attained  with  all  the 
skill  of  American  shoeing  at  command,  then  it  could  still  remain  a 
quick  and  economical  method  to  determine  the  subject's  inability  to 
trot  or  pace  fast. 

In  Fig.  67  is  given  a  scheme  to  make  a  record  of  the  make-up  and 
individuality  of  the  animal.  It  embraces  the  main  points  involved  in 
conformation  and  gait  for  speed  or  the  lack  of  it.  The  attitude  from 
the  side  (profile)  and  that  from  in  front  (en  face)  are  most  important 
features  of  such  a  preliminary  examination.  Under  "articulation"  is 
meant  the  way  the  legs  and  feet  are  united  at  their  joints,  or  how 
the  extremities  are  hung  and  how  they  are  inclined  to  move  thereby, 
with  special  reference  to  the  flatness  of  knee  and  ankle  and  to  the  free 
position  of  elbow  and  stifle  joints.  Under  "gait  and  action"  the  direc- 
tion and  elevation  of  leg  movements  are  meant ;  and  it  is  important  to 
designate  the  difference  between  the  fore  and  the  hind  legs,  which  is 
so  necessary  in  determining  the  harmony  of  motion. 


92  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

In  Fig.  68  I  desire  to  present  a  chart  for  a  record  of-shoeings  as 
they  occur  in  the  effort  to  improve  the  gait  or  rather  to  effect  a  proper 
balance  of  action.  The  forms  of  shoes  are  given  only  in  outline,  and 
they  are  left  open  at  heels  to  facilitate  additions  in  the  shape  of  heels 
when  so  wanted.  Calks  on  the  web  itself,  in  any  manner  desired,  or 
bars  at  heel  or  toe,  can  be  easily  filled  in  with  pencil  or  pen.  The  lines 
for  the  lengthwise  sections  of  shoes  can  also  be  readily  marked  down 

FIG.  67. 
INVESTIGATION  OF  GAIT. 

Subject  : 

Sire  '..  Dam  : 

Sex  •  Age  :  Color  : 

Marks  : 

Height :  Weight : 

Length  : 

ATTITUDE  (Profile) 
Front  :  Behind : 

ATTITUDE  (En  Face) 
Front .  Behind : 

MOTION  (in  or  out) 
Front :  Behind  : 

ACTION 

Front  :  Behind  : 

OTHER  POINTS 

Shoulder  :  Neck  :  Head  : 

Stifle :  Elbow :  Hip : 

Back  :  Loin : 

Withers  : 

FEET  I 

Size :  Shape  : 

Front :  Front  : 

Hind  :  Hind  : 

for  a  record.  Finally,  the  cross  section  of  hoofs  are  given  to  show  ab- 
normal development,  if  any,  and  to  designate  by  pencil  the  part  of  the 
hoof  that  has  been  intentionally  lowered,  giving  reason  therefor. 

This,  in  brief,  should  be  the  record  upon  which  should  be  based 
all  systematic  effort  to  effect  balance.  Without  such  a  system  we  are 
apt  to  grope  in  the  dark.  Memory,  be  it  ever  so  good,  cannot  be  en- 
tirely relied  on,  and  the  necessary  details  upon  whose  exact  execution 
depends  the  result  escape  our  attention.  For  years  I  have  worked  out 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Balance 


cases  by  books  specially  designed  by  me  in  just  such  exact  a  manner,  and 
find  it  very  easy  to  get  an  inside  view  of  the  locomotion  of  a  particular 
case.  From  many  cases  so  investigated  I  shall  present  certain  deduc- 


FIG.  68. 
SHOEING. 


At: 
Date  : 
Near 


By: 


Fore 


Off 


Section  of  shoe  from 
toe  to  heel : 


Angle  : 
Toe: 
Weight : 


Angle  : 

Toe: 

Weight 


Hind 


Angle :  Angle  : 

Toe :  Toe  : 

Weight :  Weight : 

Feet  lowered  at : 
Fore 


Hind 


0     O 


tions  which,  based  on  actual  experiments  as  they  are,  will  very  likely 
be  of  some  assistance  to  those  interested  in  our  American  trotters  and 
pacers. 


94 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


II. — PARING  THE  HOOF  TO  COUNTERACT  ITS  GROWTH  AND  FAULTY 

DIRECTIONS. 

In  a  previous  chapter  I  have  endeavored  to  prove  that  the  stride 
of  all  four  legs  must  average  up  the  same  if  the  horse  continues  to  trot 
or  pace.  The  slight  increase  or  decrease  that  is  now  and  then  found 
between  fore  and  hind  legs  is  merely  due  to  a  temporary  increase  or 
decrease  in  speed.  But  to  speak  of  one  leg  having  a  "shorter  stride" 
is  not  only  misleading,  but  erroneous.  What  is  meant  is  that  such  a 
leg  lacks  equal  forward  extension.  It  would  therefore  be  more  cor- 


a  b  »'  4-  m 
be  •&/•» 
d c  *  /i  in 
d    angr/e  a  be -38* 


f/G.  6$. 


rect  to  say  that  such  a  leg  had  a  "short  extension."  So  likewise  there 
is  a  confusion  of  terms  when  the  "long"  and  the  "high"  toe  are  spoken 
of.  The  toe  can  absolutely  have  only  one  dimension  and  that  is  length 
irom  the  coronet  to  its  tip  on  its  frontal  surface.  We  can  not  speak  of 
its  being  "high"  because  even  in  its  relation  to  heel  it  rests  with  latter 
on  a  plane  considered  practically  level.  No  point  in  a  plane  can  be 
higher  than  any  other.  We  are  now  considering  the  unshod  hoof 
whose  sole  surface  constitutes  that  plane. 

In  Fig.  69  we  have  two  hoofs  whose  toes  are  both  4  inches  long 
and  whose  lengthwise  sole  surface  is  5^  inches.  In  both  cases  the 
height  of  the  heel,  or  the  vertical  distance  of  d  to  c,  is  supposed  to  be 


Reqitisitcs  of  Perfect  Balance  95 

•\y2  inches.  For  argument's  sake  the  angles  are  abnormal  and  impos- 
sible, being  approximately  58°  in  one  and  38°  in  the  other  case.  The 
only  variable  point  in  both  cases  is  "a,"  this  being  the  point  at  coronet 
of  frontal  surface  a  b  of  toe.  This  point  a  varies  in  height  in  direct 
proportion  to  the  size  of  the  angle  a  b  c.  It  is  this  point  a  that  gives 
to  the  untrained  eye  the  impression  of  elevated  or  "high"  toe,  while  in 
reality  it  is  a  "high  coronet"  only. 

It  is  at  all  times  possible  to  measure  the  length  of  toe  from  a  to  b, 
and  by  means  of  a  hoof  gauge,  such  as  is  seen  in  Fig.  70,  we  can  readily 
determine  the  angle  at  toe,  or  that  angle  which  frontal  surface  line  of 
hoof  makes  with  the  plane  of  sole  surface.  In  considering  the  heel  it 
may  be  permissible  to  speak  of  a  "high"  and  "low"  heel,  because  of  its 
more  vertical  and  less  extended  dimension.  The  heel  can  be  measured, 
it  is  true,  but  not  accurately,  and  it  is  determined  by  the  angle  of  the 
toe.  It  can  be  called  "high"  or  "low"  on  account  of  its  more  fixed 
position  and  its  small  variation  in  dimension,  which  is  practically  on  a 
vertical  line  and  hardly  exceeds  ^  inch  in  total  variations. 

To  illustrate  the  relation  of  heel  to  toe,  let  us  look  at  Fig.  71. 
Here  is  a  hoof  whose  continual  growth  is  indicated  in  C  by  surface  be- 
tween f  e  and  b  c.  In  its  untouched  form  it  appears  at  A.  There  are 
three  ways  of  reducing  the  horn  of  the  hoof,  viz : 

1 I )  By  leaving  the  toe  and  lowering  the  heels,  as  at  B. 

(2)  By  shortening  the  toe  and  leaving  the  heels,  as  at  D. 

(3)  By  both  shortening  the  toe  and  lowering  the  heels,  as  at  C. 
In  the  first  case  (B)  we  reduce  the  angle  from  54°  to  48°  ;  in  the 

second  instance  (D),  we  increase  the  angle  from  54°  to  58°,  and  in 
the  last  condition  (C),  we  have  the  same  angle  of  54°,  as  in  A.  There- 
fore, we  see  that  the  relative  length  of  toe  and  height  of  heels  determine 
the  angle  at  toe. 

The  length  of  the  foot  is  most  rationally  and  readily  determined 
by  the  "white  line,"  or  that  mark  of  Nature  left  at  the  junction  of 
wall  and  sole  of  foot,  and  from  these  approximate  dimensions  the 
variations  of  heel  or  of  toe  will  either  open  or  close  the  angle  at  toe. 
If  it  is  not  safe  to  rasp  heel  down  any  more,  we  can  close  or  decrease 
angle  by  leaving  toe  a  little  longer;  and  if  toe  cannot  be  shortened  any 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


more,  we  can  close  or  decrease  angle  by  lowering  the  heels.    And,  again, 
if  we  leave  heels  untouched  and  shorten  toe,  we  open  or  increase  angle 


A 


a  A  3iin. 
fe  -  5i  in. 


d  & 


d  fc  =  5Sin. 
angle  afc'5 
dc  *•  2/n 


fc 

angle  afc~5+0 

On  ale  a  fa*  62* 

if-  Iff*. 

FIG.  71 

at  toe ;  or  if,  after  shortening  toe,  as  in  E,  we  raise  heels  by  mechan- 
ical means,  such  as  thicker  heels  of  shoes,  we  open  the  angle  with 
double  effect,  as  will  be  seen  in  E  quite  plainly. 


Requ  isites  of  Perfect  Ba  la  nee  97 

In  all  my  experiments  the  rule  of  pointing,  set  forth  by  David 
Roberge,  as  regards  backward  and  forward  extension,  was  nearly 
always  verified.  A  smaller  angle  meant  forward  extension  and  a 
larger  angle  brought  about  a  backward  extension.  I  am  now  speaking 
of  the  angle  of  the  foot  with  the  shoe  on,  inclusive  of  all  the  devices  of 
intelligent  shoeing  that  tend  to  forward  or  backward  extension. 

A  much  more  difficult  matter  is  the  lateral  adjustment  or  balance 
of  foot.  Again,  we  are  forced  to  put  before  our  mental  view  an  ideal 
attitude,  or  a  perfect  position  of  the  legs  as  viewed  from  the  front 
and  from  the  rear.  In  Fig.  67  the  table  there  given  for  noting  on  the 
subject's  points,  indicates  this  particular  deviation  from  the  perfect  by 
"Attitude  (en  face)." 

It  is  generally  accepted  that,  from  both  the  standpoint  of  beauty 
and  of  utility,  a  line  dividing  the  hoof,  ankle  and  knee  into  equal  halves, 
^hould  pass  through  or  near  the  point  of  shoulder.  This  line  can  be 
called  the  axis  of  lateral  balance  for  the  fore  leg.  This  line  would  also 
be  the  axis  of  the  so-called  "line  trot,"  or  rather,  it  indicates  and  stands 
for  a  plane  parallel  to  the  direction  of  motion  of  the  horse  in  which  the 
fore  leg  moves  without  any  swinging  to  inside  or  outside.  In  other 
words,  if  the  horse  moves  directly  towards  the  observer,  the  movements 
of  the  fore  legs  should  be  confined  to  these  vertical  planes. 

The  same  is  true  of  the  hind  leg  as  viewed  from  the  rear.  Here 
the  axis  of  motion  should  again  divide  the  hoof,  ankle  and  hock  into 
two  equal  halves  and  pass  through  or  near  the  buttock  joint.  This, 
again,  may  be  called  the  axis  of  lateral  balance  for  the  hind  leg.  This 
line  would  also  be  the  axis  of  the  plane  for  the  so-called  "'line  trot"  of 
the  hind  leg.  When,  therefore,  the  horse  moves  away  from  the  ob- 
server, this  axis  should  indicate  the  perfect  line  of  motion  as  regards 
lateral  extension  or  its  faults  of  swinging  in  or  out.  Both  these  ideal 
conditions  for  the  fore  and  hind  legs  are  illustrated  in  Fig.  72.  This 
is,  in  fact,  the  attitude  that  should  prevail  with  the  best  and  the  fastest, 
as  well  as  the  strongest  and  soundest  trotters  and  pacers,  if  compen- 
sations for  other  faults  do  not  mar  the  firmness  and  stability  of  the 
position.  An  illustration  of  such  apparent  equilibrium  and  firmness  of 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


the  four  legs  is  seen  in  the  expression  of  the  attitude  of  Sweet  Marie 
2:02  (Fig.  66),  and  of  Sonoma  Girl  2:05^4  (Fig.  78). 

Variations  from  such  a  perfect  attitude  are  always  in  order,  though 
they  really  strike  the  eye  as  being  somewhat  out  of  order.    Take,  for 


FIG.  72 


instance,  the  attitudes  illustrated  in  Fig.  73.  Here  we  have  the  fore  legs 
closer  together,  with  toes  inwardly  set  as  in  A  and  outwardly  set  or 
possibly  straight  ahead  as  in  B.  And  with  hind  feet  in  the  same  illus- 
tration approaching  each  other  we  may  have  either  a  straight  direction 

FI&  73 


of  hoof  or  one  of  toeing  in.  In  case  the  hind  toe  out  excessively,  we 
would  be  likely  to  have  an  attitude  more  as  given  in  Fig.  75 ;  that  is,  a 
tendency  to  the  cow-hock  position  of  hind  legs.  Again,  in  A  of  Fig.  73, 
we  have  the  position  of  too  free  an  elbow  and  a  tendency  to  stumble 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Balance 


99 


with  possible  paddling  of  fore.  In  B  of  Fig.  73,  we  have  an  elbow  close 
to  body  and  may  have  interference  at  knee  when  at  speed.  In  A  of 
Fig-  73>  we  may  also  have  a  possible  crossing  over  of  fore  legs,  although 
this  is  more  likely  to  occur  with  B  when  direction  or  pointing  of  hoof, 
however,  is  straight  ahead. 

In  Fig.  74,  the  legs  spread  and  the  lateral  extension  is  excessive. 
This  is  due  to  a  wide  breast,  as  in  A,  with  a  tendency  to  toe  in,  or  to 
a  bad  direction  of  leg  from  knee  down,  the  articulation  of  both  knee  and 
ankle  joint  being  outward,  as  in  B.  Again,  the  feet  in  A  are  likely  to 
paddle,  and,  in  B,  we  have  a  tendency  to  interference  if  separation 
does  not  make  knee  hitting  impossible. 

fie.  74 


A 


In  Fig.  75,  the  fore  legs  have  a  common  position ;  namely,  that  of 
the  regular  knee  hitter,  the  articulation  of  knee  joint  being  outward 
with  arm  above  and  leg  below  straight  in  themselves.  The  hind  legs, 
with  the  same  tendency,  are  those  of  the  cow-hocked  horse,  suggesting 
excessively  free  stifle  joints  and  spreading  as  well  as  outward  swinging 
of  legs.  It  is  entirely  faulty,  both  for  speed  or  ordinary  work,  just  as 
the  position  in  B  of  Fig.  74  is  entirely  faulty  for  the  fore  legs. 

We  can  readily  see  that  even  here  compensations  may  figure 
strongly  in  the  making  of  speed,  or  in  the  absence  of  interference. 
Without  enumerating  all  the  possible  combinations  of  fore  with  hind, 
it  may  be  left  to  the  reader  what  attitude  at  one  end,  even  though  faulty 
according  to  standard  in  Fig.  72,  may  be  compensated  by  an  opposite 


ioo  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

one  at  the  other  end,  so  as  to  avoid  interference  and  hence  produce  a 
good  clean  gait.  As  to  the  hind  attitudes,  it  may  be  worth  while  to 
note  that  in  trotters  the  tendency  is  from  Fig.  72-B  to  Fig.  74-C,  and 
with  pacers  the  tendency  is  from  the  attitude  in  Fig.  72-6  to  that  of 
Fig.  73-C ;  that  is  to  say,  trotters  are  apt  to  spread  behind,  while  pacers 
move  hind  legs  closer  together,  and  vice  versa,  the  fore  of  the  trotter 
are  likely  to  approach  each  other,  while  those  of  the  pacer  are  apt  to 
separate  more. 

The  fore  in  A  and  B  of  Fig.  73  represent  those  of  the  trotter  (as 
a  rule),  while  the  fore  in  Fig.  74  at  A  and  in  Fig.  75  show  the  tendency 
of  a  pacer.  The  latter,  however  (Fig.  75),  is  often  also  the  attitude  of 

FIG.  75 


A  B 

many  fore  legs  of  trotters.  There  are  many  exceptions,  and  what  is 
here  stated  is  but  the  result  of  the  various  experiments,  from  which 
generalizations  have  been  made. 

There  are  also  many  combinations  of  attitudes  that  must  be  left  to 
the  judgment  of  the  trainer  for  correction,  if  such  be  possible.  What 
the  lateral  extension  of  all  these  attitudes  is,  can  only  be  found  by 
the  measurements  with  reference  to  the  median  line,  as  given  in  the 
previous  chapter.  Or,  if  this  method  does  not  appeal  to  some,  at  least 
the  direction  or  line  of  motion  can  be  ascertained  by  the  position  and 
outward  or  inward  pointing  of  the  tracks  on  ground.  There  is  perhaps 
more  lost  motion,  lost  time  and  lost  energy  in  unnecessary  lateral  ex- 
tension than  in  the  action  of  legs  as  viewed  in  profile  or  from  the  side ; 
and,  therefore,  it  is  quite  as  important  to  accomplish  good  lateral 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Balance 


101 


balance  as  it  is  to  regulate  the  direct  extension  forward  and  backward. 
The  proper  balance  of  foot  and  shoe  from  side  to  side  or  quarter  to 
quarter  is,  therefore,  a  matter  that  requires  great  skill  and  knowledge 
on  the  part  of  the  shoer. 

It  is  much  easier  to  have  ground  surface  and  angle  of  foot  in 
correct  relation.  Heel  and  toe  are  readily  responsive  to  treatment,  but 
in  its  lateral  construction  the  foot  is  often  very  defective.  The  fore 
are  not  evenly  rounded  nor  are  the  hind  of  an  evenly  oblong  shape; 
and  yet  the  theory  of  pointing  is  verified  by  the  motion  of  misshapen 
feet. 

Q 


B 


The  foot,  divided  by  two  axes  at  right  angles  to  each  other,  as 
given  in  A  of  Fig.  76,  should,  in  ideal  lateral  balance,  show  equal  or 
symmetrical  surfaces  outlined  by  the  rim  of  the  foot ;  and  the  axis  of 
leg,  as  in  B,  should  meet  rim  of  foot  exactly  at  M,  the  apex  of  that 
rim  or  the  point  of  the  toe.  Such  perfect  conditions  do  not  always 
prevail,  but  the  remedy  for  such  desirable  symmetry  lies  in  the  ap- 
plication of  the  theory  of  pointing,  and  in  following  the  rule  of  com- 
pensation. 

By  the  rule  of  compensation  is  meant  the  general  offset  of  one 
defect  by  an  increase  of  development  in  its  opposite  and  symmetrical 
direction.  In  the  conformation  of  a  horse,  Nature  tries  to  offset  or 


IO2  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

equalize  faults  by  strength  elsewhere  in  support  of  that  fault.  Nothing 
in  the  anatomy  or  the  locomotion  of  the  horse  is  really  and  absolutely 
perfect,  and  what  parts  of  it  impress  us  as  being  beautiful  in  outline  or 
remarkable  in  expression,  are  such  simply  because  they  are  placed  in 
symmetrical  equilibrium.  We  are  looking  at  certain  points  around 
which  are  built  the  frame  and  the  mass  of  the  horse,  and  these  points 
are  but  the  centers  of  symmetry,  or  the  centers  of  reference,  around 
which  rest  or  move  in  symmetrical  proportion  or  symmetrical  motion, 
the  various  parts  of  the  animal. 


This  is  likewise  true  of  the  hoof,  and  wherever  an  improvement 
for  a  better  adjustment  is  possible,  it  must  be  accomplished  by  the 
simple  principles  of  symmetry. 

If,  for  instance,  the  surface  in  the  quarter  section  from  a  to  c 
(Fig.  77-A),  shows  a  so-called  "wing"  or  outward  curve,  the  axis  of 
direction  for  that  foot  is  more  likely  to  be  M  N,  or  to  one  side  of  axis 
of  leg.  The  offset  or  compensation  for  such  a  fulness  of  hoof  is  an 
extra  height  in  its  symmetrical  opposite  or  of  the  quarter  section  a  d. 
in  Fig.  77  (A).  Reducing  this  full  surface  in  height,  as  at  e  to  c  in 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Balance  103 

B,  we  readjust  the  axis  M  N  so  that  the  equilibrium  between  the  two 
halves  of  the  foot  is  again  established.  All  this  is  but  a  repetition  of 
the  simple  yet  highly  ingenious  theory  of  pointing  of  David  Roberge. 
Again,  I  must  tell  the  reader  that  it  is  not  a  "theory"  as  opposed  to 
practice,  but  an  exposition  of  facts  found  by  actual  experience  and  an 
interpretation  of  the  principles  of  equine  locomotion.  The  various  parts 
of  the  animal  mechanism  engaged  in  this  locomotion  must  be* in  equili- 
brium to  bring  about  a  proper  balance.  Defects  must  be  offset  in  some 
manner,  where  possible,  to  cause  that  equilibrium. 

Perfect  balance  is,  therefore,  perfect  symmetry,  or  it  is  the  perfect 
equilibrium  around  those  points  of  reference  in  the  horse,  whether  at 
rest  or  in  motion,  by  which  we  unconsciously  judge  his  conformation 
and  locomotion. 

"A  perfect  balance  is  perfect  repose  at  rest,"  says  Roberge,  and  to 
emphasize  this  dictum  the  picture  of  our  California  phenomenon,. 
Sweet  Marie  2 :02,  adorns  the  first  page  of  this  chapter. 

I  now  present  another  marvel  from  my  State,  Sonoma  Girl 
2:05 J/4.  Like  the  other  mare  she  is  at  "attention."  In  both  there  is 
"perfect  repose" — perfect  balance. 

It  seems  natural  for  these  two  mares  to  stand  squarely  on  their 
feet.  Here  is  an  attitude  worthy  of  study  and  one  that  should  be  pro- 
claimed as  standard.  To  the  lover  of  the  horse,  as  well  as  to  the 
connoisseur,  this  "perfect  repose"  seems  to  guarantee  harmony  of 
motion  and  symmetry  of  action ;  it  carries  within  itself  great  possi- 
bilities of  endurance  and  of  speed.  Though  I  have  had  no  opportunity 
to  see  either  of  these  mares  trot  or  to  observe  how  they  are  shod,  I 
know  from  experience  that  in  spite  of  all  their  perfect  balance  there 
must  have  been  expended  on  their  development  infinite  care,  patience 
and  thought.  Though  Nature  may  have  provided  an  almost  perfect 
piece  of  animal  mechanism,  there  is  as  much  credit  due  to  the  men 
behind  these  mares  as  to  the  men  behind  the  forge,  because,  during 
the  development  of  such  an  animal  in  strength  and  capacity  and  speed, 
continual  and  intelligent  attention  must  be  given  to  a  progressive  cor- 
rection or  adjustment  of  balance. 

The  growing  hoof — for  it  grows  continually  and  sometimes  un- 


IO4  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

equally — is  a  growing  evil,  as  Roberge  says ;  and  one  shoeing  does  not 
remedy  a  previous  fault,  unless  we  check  that  growth  or  confine  it 
within  such  definite  limits  as  are  required  to  effect  the  same  or  a  better 
balance. 

The  four  sections  of  the  bare  foot  as  given  in  Fig.  76,  indicate  the 
four  general  directions  in  which  the  foot  can  "break  over"  or  the  point 
at  which  there  is  the  least  resistance  because  it  is  the  lowest  point  of 
sole  surface.  The  leverage  of  foot  by  the  tendons,  as  it  is  rocked  over, 
is  at  such  a  point.  Trimming  the  foot  to  offset  this  tendency,  if  neces- 
sary and  possible,  is  quite  a  difficult  matter  and  requires  an  appreciation 
and  a  knowledge  of  the  effects  in  the  gait.  Lateral  balance  is  one  of 
the  hardest  things  to  determine,  in  which  shoers  often  fail  to  use  suffi- 
cient delicacy  of  workmanship.  A  slight  rasping  at  any  higher  or 
wider  point  of  hoof,  and  one  that  removes  no  more  than  1/16  inch  or 
even  less,  is  often  sufficient  to  direct  the  foot  into  a  better  line  of 
motion.  The  shoe  being  a  perfect  plane — it  should  be  so — must  rest 
evenly  all  around  against  the  rim  of  the  foot.  Therefore  any  lowering 
at  a  certain  point  will  have  to  be  carefully  extended  and  diminished 
equally  on  both  sides  of  that  point,  or  else  the  shoe  will  not  lie  evenly 
against  the  foot.  Here  again  we  have  the  principles  of  symmetry, 
because  we  endeavor  to  tip  the  shoe — or  its  plane  next  to  rim — toward 
the  point  we  lower.  Merely  lowering  the  hoof  at  one  place  of  small 
area  does  not  give  that  plane  the  correct  and  effective  incline. 

Perhaps  it  is  unnecessary  to  explain,  these  matters  to  farriers,  and 
this  book  is  not  written  entirely  for  them,  but  rather  for  the  many 
men  who  spend  their  money  and  time  for  the  rational  development  of 
the  trotter  and  pacer.  That  is  why  I  insist  on  recording  the  peculiar- 
ities of  either  ,gait  for  the  sake  of  correcting  their  faults  ;  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  lateral  balance,  or  the  direction  of  foot  to  either  right  or 
left,  compelled  me  to  find  exact  positions  of  feet  and  their  angles  by 
a  median  line,  or  a  line  of  reference. midway  between  sulky  wheels,  as 
given  in  Fig.  62,  Although  accuracy  is  required  and  an  instrument 
(Fig.  44)  is  necessary,  no  other  or  simpler  method  suggested  itself. 

Experiments  have  proved  to  my  mind  that  the  principal  work  to  be 
done  to  effect  a  proper  balancing  of  gait,  or  of  motion  and  direction 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Balance  105 

of  feet,  lies  in  the  shaping  or  trimming  of  the  hoof  itself.  I  have 
a  profound  respect  for  the  men  who  devise  shoes  to  overcome  faults  of 
gait,  but  in  all  complicated  patterns  of  shoes  so  made  there  is  a  fun- 
damental idea  which  can,  by  simplification  of  shoe  and  proper  trim- 
ming of  foot,  be  made  just  as  effective.  Great  speed,  or  any  reason- 
able speed,  incurs  danger  of  injury  to  the  limbs  of  the  horse,  and  the 
simpler  the  shoes,  or  the  more  compact  in  design,  the  less  danger  is 
there  from  missteps,  interference,  shocks  and  twists. 

The  final  test  of  all  shoeing  rests  in  its  serviceableness.  Designs 
that  wear  off  quickly  require  too  frequent  a  shoeing,  which  proves 
injurious  to  the  hoof.  Therefore  simplicity  of  design  is  one  of  the 
important  requisites  of  shoeing.  Shoeing  should  be  secondary  in  im- 
portance to  trimming  the  hoof  according  to  the  rules  of  pointing.  It 
should  supplement  the  defects  of  the  hoof  and  induce  such  changes 
in  gait  as  tend  to  restrain  or  aid  extension  and  action.  And  again 
I  must  remind  the  reader  that  the  real  effect,  the  actual  outcome,  of 
all  this  combination  of  trimming  the  foot  and  protecting  it,  called 
shoeing,  can  only  be  accurately  obtained  by  an  investigation  of  which 
this  book  treats.  Even  with  such  definite  knowledge  it  will  be  diffi- 
cult enough  to  work  out  this  problem  of  balance,  but  it  seems  a  far 
saner  way  than  to  mystify  ourselves  by  trusting  to  luck  or  haphazard 
changes,  which  are  bound  to  land  us  in  a  labyrinth  of  confusion. 

The  analysis  of  the  gaits  is  after  all  no  mystery  at  all  and  trainers 
would  do  well  to  become  familiar  with  its  main  features  if  not  with 
its  details.  There  are  always  enough  highly  skilled  farriers  to  do 
one's  bidding  just  right  and  they  would  succeed  a  little  better  still 
in  the  way  of  balancing  a  horse  if  they  had  the  trainer's  definite 
knowledge  of  the  horse's  gait  and  its  deficiencies.  Accuracy,  scientific 
accuracy,  time,  perseverance  and  thought  will  accomplish  a  great  deal, 
and  in  these  there  is  no  mystery,  except  it  be  in  their  happy  com- 
bination as  often  seen  in  the  genius  of  the  man  behind  the  horse. 

Very  much  depends  on  the  proper  use  of  the  hoof  gauge  (Fig. 
44)  to  ascertain  the  angle  of  toe  with  the  surface  or  plane  of  sole. 
The  plane  A  D  B  in  Fig.  79  represents  the  surface  of  sole  and  the 
plane  L  C  H  is  at  right  angles  with  it  and  is  supposed  to  contain  the 


io6 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


axis  of  leg,  or  the  perpendicular  line  dividing  the  leg  into  symmetrical 
halves.  At  E  we  have  the  point  of  toe  of  a  foot  and  the  angle  of  such 
a  point  (K  E  H)  if  measured  by  any  line,  such  as  E  K  in  this  perpen- 
dicular plane.  The  angle  sought  is  therefore  contained  in  two  planes 


FIG.  79 

at  right  angles  with  each  other,  one  of  them  cutting  lengthwise  into  two 
halves  the  hoof  in  question,  whose  sole  surface  rests  on  the  other  or 
horizontal  plane. 

The  hoof  guage  denotes  the  angle  exactly  in  that  manner.     In  case 
the  frontal  surface  of  hoof  is  uneven  or  bulgy,  such  uneven  line  could 


FlG.^80 

be  averaged  by  the  eye  by  means  of  a  small  thumb-screw  in  frontal  bar 
of  gauge,  as  given  in  Fig.  80,  where  the  bar  is  parallel  with  the  main 
frontal  line  of  hoof.  It  is  also  well  to  rasp  off  a  little  bulge  in  outline 
so  as  to  adjust  the  gauge  properly.  Ordinarily  the  difficulty  of  a  nice 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Ba  la  nee  i  o  7 

adjustment  is  not  so  great;  but  unless  the  frontal  line  is  well  defined 
and  closely  follows  bar  of  gauge,  there  is  likely  to  be  a  difference 
between  opposite  feet,  which  may  account  for  an  irregularity  of  gait. 
The  bulging  coronet,  and  the  dished  toe,  is  the  most  annoying  combi- 
nation, as  at  A,  which  can  only  be  averaged  up  by  front  line  of  gauge. 

The  range  of  angles  for  front  feet  is  from  45°  to  52°  and  for  hind 
feet  from  48°  to  55°.  In  the  natural  state,  the  hind  foot  is  generally 
steeper  than  the  fore  foot,  just  as  the  hind  pastern  is  generally  steeper 
than  the  fore  pastern.  The  direction  of  the  pastern  is  recommended  as 
the  indication  for  direction  of  frontal  line  of  hoof.  This  direction  of 
pastern  continued  on  hoof  to  ground  seems  to  present  the  most  natural 
leverage  for  leg  at  toe.  As  a  rule,  the  fore  feet  should  have  same  angle 
with  regard  to  each  other,  and  so,  likewise,  the  hind  feet. 

Right  here  a  few  remarks  about  "pointing"  will  illustrate  its  prac- 
tical application.  If  we  have  the  near  fore  at  49° ,  and  the  off  fore  at 


FIG.  8/ 

51°,  their  relative  extensions  can  be  presented,  as  in  Fig.  81,  where 
C  D — the  near  fore — extends  farther  forward  but  correspondingly  less 
backward  than  off  fore,  A  B  ;  both  moving  in  the  direction  from  B  to  A 
and  from  D  to  C. 

Photography  has  shown — and  the  tracks  on  ground  testify  to  the 
same  fact — that  the  heel  of  the  stiffly  extended  leg  is  the  first  to  strike 
the  ground.  It,  therefore,  seems  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  lower 
the  angle — that  is,  the  lower  the  heels — the  greater  the  forward  ex- 
tension ;  and  because  the  heel  leaves  the  ground  first,  or  before  the  toe, 
it  is  evident  that  the  less  the  angle  of  the  foot,  or  the  lower  the  heel,  the 
less  will  be  its  backward  extension.  So  that  with  these  two  feet  of 
different  angles,  we  find  a  greater  pointing  forward  by  C  D  or  near 
fore,  which  has  the  lesser  angle.  In  both  these  cases  it  is  presumed 
that  length  of  toe  is  the  same. 


io8  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

I  do  by  no  means  advocate  any  indiscriminate  or  sudden  change 
01  angles  to  effect  a  change  in  pointing.  Sudden  changes  are  always  a 
menace  to  soundness  and  something  is  likely  to  snap  or  break. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  a  difference  of  i°  or  2°  makes  quite 
a  difference  in  the  height  of  the  heel,  even  at  so  small  a  distance  of 
4  to  6  inches,  which  is  generally  the  length  of  foot.  A  strict  ad- 
herence to  definite  angles  cannot  be  too  strongly  recommended,  pro- 
vided suitable  angles  have  been  found.  Proper  angles  and  their  repe- 
tition at  each  shoeing  insure  safety  from  injury  to  the  tendons.  But 
even. with  all  the  care  of  angles  the  ground  should  be  consulted  and 
notes  should  be  taken  of  any  concussion  of  web  of  shoe.  Where  per- 
sistent striking  of  ground  by  parts  of  the  shoe  is  seen  something  must 
be  wrong.  If  it  is  at  heels,  they  are  either  too  high  or  too  long  in  foot 
or  shoe.  If  it  is  at  toe  alone  there  is  generally  a  weakness  of  extension 
of  foot  which  is  hard  to  remedy.  And  again,  if  these  concussions  occur 
in  the  region  of  the  quarters  they  point  to  a  wrong  direction  or  axis  of 
leg  or  foot,  or  of  both.  In  all  such  observations  we  may  or  we  may 
not  effect  a  cure,  but  we  are  at  least  always  aware  of  the  real  dis- 
turbing causes.  We  are  not  groping  entirely  in  the  dark  as  we  do 
when  we  change  shoes  only  just  to  try  something  else  and  judge  the 
gait  entirely  from  the  seat  of  the  sulky.  Incidentally,  I  may  remark  that 
subsequent  trials  or  experiments  will  show  the  advisability  of  unequal 
lengths  of  feet  and  of  unequal  angles  where  deficiencies  exist.  The 
greater  the  speed,  however,  the  smaller  the  changes  necessary. 

III. — THE  SHAPE  OF  SHOES  AS  A  CORRECTIVE  OF  GAIT. 

A  few  remarks  on  the  shoes  to  be  applied  are  now  in  order.  Since 
I  do  not  claim  to  be  a  farrier,  the  question  of ,  the  kind  of  shoe  to  be 
applied  should  in  fairness  be  left  to  the  skilful  man  at  the  forge.  Our 
country  has  brought  out  some  great  men  in  that  line  of  work.  The 
development  of  the  standard  bred  horse  has  shown  that  in  a  remark- 
able manner.  All  I  want  to  insist  on  and  emphasize  with  much  ardor 
is  that  shoes  so  made  and  applied  should  always  show  the  foot  to  come 
in  contact  with  ground  firmly,  distinctly  and  lightly.  There  must  be 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Balance  109 

no  apparent  distress  by  concussion  and  no  loss  of  time  by  the  slip- 
ping and  sliding  of  any  part  of  the  shoe.  Only  when  the  contact  with 
the  ground  by  the  shoes  is  firm,  distinct  and  light  can  the  horse  be  said 
to  move  with  ease  and  effect  in  his  endeavor  for  speed.  Any  other 
evidence  on  the  ground  may  reasonably  be  taken  as  showing  both  de- 
fective gait  and  imperfect  shoeing. 

The  capacity  to  take  infinite  pains  has  been  given  as  the  definition 
of  genius.  It  is  this  fine  spirit  that  marks  the  American  trainer  of  trot- 
ters and  pacers;  and  the  wish  to  help  him  in  his  work  is  largely  re- 
sponsible for  the  publication  of  this  book.  The  trainer,  and  for  that 
matter  the  owner,  should  be  able  to  minutely  advise  the  farrier  as  to 
how  the  horse  moves  and  handles  itself.  He  should  know  the  gait  by 
the  record  on  the  ground  and  should  be  able  to  tell  what  he  wants. 
However  much  he  may  hope  to  accomplish  all  the  work  in  the  sulky,  it 
would  at  times  be  a  good  plan  for  him  to  stand  off  and  watch  his 
horse  move  past  him  driven  by  an  understudy.  This  would  give  him 
time  for  observation  and  possible  calculation  of  ground  evidence,  all 
of  which  is  by  no  means  lost  time.  It  does  one  good  to  get  away 
from  the  grind  of  everyday  routine  and  do  a  little  gazing  and  figur- 
ing. To  rest  one's  hands  and  think  has  to  my  knowledge  often  been 
the  beginning  of  better  work  afterwards. 

Aside  from  the  fact  that  the  iron  rim  called  a  shoe  is  a  protec~ 
tion  for  the  brittle  horn  of  the  foot,  there  enter  into  its  effect  on  the 
gait  two  distinct  qualities,  namely,  weight  and  shape.  Judging  from 
what  one  hears  generally  of  shoeing  or  any  particular  change  in  shoes, 
the  most  important  feature  of  it  seems  to  be  weight.  So  many  ounces 
in  front  and  so  many  ounces  behind  is  the  whole  song  of  shoeing  one 
hears.  Never  a  word  of  shape,  or  toe  or  heel  or  angle,  but  always 
weight  and  weight  as  the  paramount  issue !  In  all  his  discourse  on 
pointing,  Roberge  hardly  ever  mentions  weight,  but  he  does  harp  con- 
stantly on  the  shape  of  the  foot  and  the  shape  of  the  shoe.  Weight 
has  only  relative  value;  that  is,  when  applied  in  conjunction  with 
certain  conditions  of  angle  and  toe  length.  Our  ultimate  aim  in  bal- 
ance should  be  the  principle:  the  lighter  the  shoe  the  better  for  the 
horse.  The  effect  of  weight  is  not  fully  understood  and  the  import- 


1 10  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

ance  of  mere  weight  is  largely  overestimated.  Weight  in  general  in- 
creases action.  Under  certain  conditions,  it  increases  extension  or  reach. 
With  the  fore  foot  it  develops  the  folding  of  knee  and  the  trajectory 
or  path  of  toe  is  more  elevated  and  is  likely  to  be  less  extended,  while 
with  the  hind  foot  it  also  develops  elevation  with  certain  shaped  shoes, 
but  as  a  rule  causes  more  extension  or  reach  of  foot.  On  the  whole, 
weight  all  round  steadies  the  horse  in  gait,  but  at  the  expense  of  his 
energy.  Its  temporary  use  is  a  good  educational  course ;  as  also  are 
unequal  weights  on  opposite  fore  or  hind  feet,  which  may  be  required 
to  equalize  action  and  extension.  All  this  I  shall  endeavor  to  show 
in  the  results  of  experiments  made. 

The  shape  of  the  shoe  is  by  far  the  more  important  part  of  shoe- 

GrooveH  foes 

^ 

-rolling  rnofion 


^cooped  toe. 

-..it      ii  calks  on  heeJs 

outside  heel  longer 
grooved  web 

FIG. 82 

ing.  This  has  a  direct  influence  on  the  direction  of  the  leg  as  well 
as  its  motion.  Usually  shapes  so  given  or  illustrated  never  present 
the  longitudinal  section  of  shoe  but  only  its  horizontal  section ;  and 
the  shoe  is  given  with  ground  surface  up  or  as  applied  to  uplifted 
foot.  A  crosscut  lengthwise  of  the  entire  web  of  shoe  is  as  essential 
in  understanding  its  effect  as  the  flat  surface  drawing.  In  Fig. 
68,  which  gives  a  blank  record  page  of  proposed  shoeing,  the  shoes  are 
represented  as  being  on  a  standing  horse ;  and  it  is  presumed  that  the 
view  of  these  patterns  is  from  above,  with  sole  surface  of  shoe  on 
ground  and  with  the  direction  of  motion  the  same  as  in  riding  or  driv- 
ing the  animal.  In  Fig.  82  such  a  view  and  direction  is  represented. 
Any  peculiarity,  such  as  swelled  or  grooved  web,  scooped  or  grooved 
toe,  or  calked  heel,  is  given  directly  as  it  is  on  ground  surface  and  as  it 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Balance  1 1 1 

would  affect  the  gait  of  the  horse  in  the  direction  of  the  arrow.  There 
is  some  confusion  of  ideas  of  the  shape  of  the  shoe  by  inverting  it, 
because  when  we  look  at  a  shoe  of  right  hind  foot,  for  instance,  we 
generally  handle  it  with  ground  surface  towards  us  and  heels  down,  so 
that  a  longer  outside  heel  would  appear  to  be  on  the  inside,  and  so 
forth,  something  like  the  image  of  a  subject  in  a  mirror. 

If  the  designation  or  scheme  of  Fig.  82  is  not  agreeable  we  should 
logically  present  the  four  shoes  as  in  Fig.  83,  where  they  appear  as  on 
the  uplifted  leg,  namely,  with  heels  up  and  toes  down.  With  the  un- 
derstanding that  the  direction  of  moving  feet  is  as  indicated  by  arrow, 
this  would  in  reality  be  the  more  desirable  and  perhaps  more  logical 
representation.  But  I  believe  that  Fig.  82  is  more  easy  of  compre- 
hension if  we  imagine  the  true  character  of  ground  surface  indicated 


F 1 0.83. 

as  if  showing  through  shoe,  as  there  given.  At  all  events  the  "point- 
ing" of  foot  is  better  understood  and  corrected,  if  possible,  by  view- 
ing them  as  set  on  ground  and  pointing  in  the  direction  in  which  the 
natural  motion  of  the  horse  proceeds.  Therefore  I  have  adopted  it  as 
the  most  convenient  plan  for  records  of  past  shoeings  and  of  improve- 
ments based  on  the  results  of  my  analysis  of  ,gait. 

The  great  underlying  principle  of  rocking  motion  as  exemplified 
in  all  flesh-footed  animals  should  never  be  lost  sight  of  in  the  con- 
struction of  a  shoe  designed  not  only  for  speed,  but  also  for  preserving 
soundness  of  leg.  I  believe  that  the  trotter  and  pacer  have  been 
grossly  sinned  against  in  the  name  of  speed  by  the  construction  of 
shoes  solely  to  effect  speed,  or  rather  to  correct  in  some  forcible  way 
the  interference  of  feet  or  the  action  of  legs.  Weight  in  front  and 


112 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


calks  behind  have  done  no  end  of  harm ;  but  to-day  there  is  evidently 
a  tendency  for  simplicity  in  shape  and  lightness  in  weight,  and  this  is 
a  move  toward  a  better  and  less  forced  gait. 

The  rolling  motion  shoe  appears  to-day,  if  not  in  its  pure  form,  at 
least  as  the  fundamental  idea  of  construction,  for  we  cannot  disregard 
its  great  advantages  when  modified  so  as  to  prevent  slipping  or  undue 
high  action. 


F/Cr 


In  the  Figs.  84-87  I  have  endeavored  to  show  the  relative  effect 
of  the  plain  shoe  and  calked  plain  shoe,  as  compared  with  its  corre- 
sponding rolling  motion  form.  The  curve  M  N  is  in  each  case  an  arc 
of  a  circle  and  this  arc,  by  its  longer  or  shorter  radius,  is  meant  to  in- 


dicate the  longer  or  the  shorter  contact  of  foot  with  ground.  A  B  is  a 
lever  whose  real  fulcrum  will  be  at  B,  when  on  ground.  The  ground 
surface  of  this  lever  is  straight,  and  the  longer  A  B  the  slower  will 
be  the  motion  of  the  points  A  and  B,  and  hence  the  longer  the  contact 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Balance  113 

with  ground.  If,  however,  this  leverage  is  aided  by  a  number  of  in- 
termediate points  which  in  succession  act  as  fulcrums  with  short  lever- 
age, the  motion  of  points  A  and  B  will  be  quicker,  and  hence  the  shorter 
will  be  the  contact  with  ground.  That  is  to  say,  the  arc  M  N  repre- 
sents in  reality  the  degree  of  rotation  of  the  foot,  and  the  slower  the 


FIG.  86. 

leverage  from  heel  to  toe  the  less  will  be  the  rotation  or  elevation  of 
that  foot;  and  the  quicker  the  leverage  from  heel  to  toe,  the  greater 
will  be  the  rotation  or  elevation  of  that  foot.  This  arc  M  N,  or  the 
length  of  its  radius,  or  the  degree  of  its  curves  or  rotation,  depend 


therefore  directly  on  the  length  of  A  B  or  rather  the  distance  of  A  to 
the  nearest  point  coming  in  contact  with  ground  after  A.  Therefore, 
to  quicken  and  elevate  action  and  particularly  to  minimize  leverage  at 
toe,  the  rolling  motion  shoe  in  its  various  forms  will  always  remain  a 
sensible  type  of  construction. 


114  Gait  of  tJie  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

The  rolling  motion  shoe  has  found  favor  principally  as  applied 
to  fore  feet,  but  it  is  as  favorable  in  its  effect  in  the  hind  action.  In 
Fig.  87  is  represented  a  hind  shoe  that  is1  safe  and  well  adapted  to  in- 
crease hock  action  without  increasing  extension ;  that  is  to  say,  like 
all  the  rocker  pattern  shoes,  it  shortens  the  radius  of  rotation  and 
thereby  lifts  the  foot  higher  and  more  quickly. 

The  general  objection  to  higher  action  behind  is  the  fear  of  loss 
of  forward  extension ;  and  with  this  fear  is  coupled  the  struggle  to  get 
the  fore  feet  out  of  the  way  of  the  hind  feet.  All  of  this  proves  that 
the  action  and  extension  of  the  hind  feet  have  been  much  neglected, 
or  but  little  understood.  My  experiments  will  throw  some  light  on 
this  question. 

Again,  the  use  of  square  toes,  as  may  be  expected,  shortens  the 
extension  and  quickens  the  action  because  of  the  shorter  leverage  be- 
tween heel  and  toe.  Bars  across  the  heels  of  shoes,  besides  acting  as 
a  protection,  have  the  effect  of  rolling  foot  forward  by  preventing  a 
sinking  or  anchoring  of  heels  in  ground.  Likewise  the  various  appli- 
cations of  calks  on  web  of  shoe,  lengthwise  or  crosswise,  or  the  full 
bar  across  the  whole  shoe,  as  in  the  so-called  "Memphis  shoe,"  are 
nothing  but  a  modification  of  the  rocker  pattern  with  the  added  im- 
provement of  safety  from  slipping  and  of  effectiveness  in  taking  hold 
of  the  ground.  The  various  devices  known  to  all  good  shoers,  such 
as  the  creasing  of  shoe,  or  bars,  or  concave  or  scooped  toe,  or 
weighting  web,  and  all  the  rest,  must  be  left  to  the  emergencies  of  each 
case;  but  I  believe  that  most  devices  applied  are  unnecessary  tortures 
added  to  hard  training;  and  their  effect  can  be  produced  better  by 
proper  training  or  balancing  of  hoof  itself  and  in  most  cases  are  ap- 
plied merely  because  they  are  presumed  to  improve  the  gait.  No 
ground  evidence  is  sought,  and  the  improvement  of  the  gait  remains  a 
matter  of  chance  and  of  guess-work. 


IV. — SIMPLICITY  OF  RIG  AND  THE  NEED  OF  TIME. 

Let  us  now  consider  the  various  devices  of  straps  and  boots  and 
poles  and  bits  and  harness  and  checking  the  head.     As  with  shoes,  so 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Balance  1 1 5. 

with  the  regalia  which  bedeck  the  trotter  and  pacer  when  he  appears 
on  the  arena  to  fight  his  battle — let  it  all  be  simple;  sensible  and  natural. 
Nothing  strangely  complicated  and  suggesting  either  an  abnormal  mind 
or  an  abnormal  animal  should  be  used  or  seen  on  the  track  when  the 
starter  lines  them  up.  Nearly  all  devices  are  or  should  be  of  tempo- 
rary use  only,  or  for  educational  purposes  only.  The  horse  appear- 
ing on  the  track  for  a  race  should  be  a  graduate  from  his  training 
school  and  should  be  free  from  extraordinary  or  unsightly  para- 
phernalia of  any  kind.  And,  furthermore,  should  the  trotter  and  pacer 
appear  at  ease  to  please  the  eye  of  the  spectator.  No  matter  what  train- 
ers may  say  or  claim  for  the  defense  of  high  checking,  the  mere  fact 
that  it  looks  cruel  besides  unnatural  should  classify  it  among  those 
remnants  of  darker  days  which  in  the  process  of  evolution  refuse  to 
slough  off. 

Much  as  I  have  been  a  believer  in  the  free  head,  there  is  some 
reason  for  the  humane  use  of  the  check  line  with  reference  to  balance. 
Any  excess,  however,  in  this  line  of  rigging  is  not  only  an  eyesore,  but 
an  act  of  cruelty.  As  in  other  parts  of  this  book  I  have  advocated 
simplicity  as  being  a  part  of  ideal  motion  and  ideal  gait,  so  here  .like- 
wise I  must  insist  that  the  free  head  should  be  a  part  of  those  ideals. 
It  may  be  urged  that  we  never  have  ideal  conditions  and  therefore  can- 
not have  ideal  motion  and  ideal  gait.  But  all  endeavors  for  improve- 
ment in  any  line  of  activity  in  human  life  rest  on  what  we  conceive  to- 
be  perfect,  regardless  of  the  various  compromises  that  result  from 
such  endeavors  and  fall  short  of  our  expectations.  All  progress  prac- 
tically rests  on  what  idea  we  carry  in  our  mind  of  the  perfect  object. 
Were  it  not  for  such  a  mental  picture,  ambition  would  cease  to  exist 
and  all  growth  of  knowledge  would  stop.  Therefore  ideals  are  as  nec- 
essary for  the  training  of  our  trotters  and  pacers  as  they  are  for  any 
pursuit  where  development  is  sought  and  effected. 

The  free  head  generally  results  from  an  easy  mouth,  that  ideal 
quality  of  a  good  roadster;  and  this  again  depends  not  only  on  the 
good  condition  of  the  teeth,  which  like  the  feet  need  continual  atten- 
tion, but  also  on  the  hand  of  the  trainer.  Too  heavy  a  hold  of  the 
lines  adds  neither  to  the  appearance  nor  to  the  utility  of  the  horse. 


n6  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

There  is  no  doubt  but  what  the  carriage  of  head  and  neck,  to- 
gether  with  their  size  and  weight,  must  be  considered  in  the  matter  of 
balance.  In  any  correction  of  gait,  however,  they  are  not  of  primary 
but  rather  of  secondary  importance.  First  balance  must  be  effected 
through  the  foot  and  the  shoe,  and  with  a  tolerably  or  an  entirely  free 
head ;  and  then  only  should  recourse  be  taken  to  higher  checking  or  to 
other  paraphernalia.  The  less  we  hamper  the  horse  by  boots  and 
harness  or  by  weights  or  poles  or  other  devices,  the  better  for  his  effi- 
ciency. If  the  breeding  and  development  of  the  standard  bred  horse 
is  carried  on  with  these  principles  in  mind,  or  with  such  ideals  of  gait 
and  action,  his  training  and  preparation  will  become  easier  and  his  ap- 
pearance more  agreeable  and  natural. 

This  whole  matter  of  such  progressive  methods  which  are  likely 
to  bring  about  simpler  conditions  can  be  left  safely  to  the  common 
sense  and  ingenuity  of  our  American  trainers.  These  will  continue  to 
take  infinite  pains  in  the  development  of  our  unique  type  of  standard 
bred  horses,  and  to  them  is  due  the  intelligence,  pluck  and  usefulness 
of  the  animal. 

The  last,  and  often  strangely  considered  the  least,  requisite  of 
balance  is  time.  We  cannot  expect  an  immediate  result  from  any 
change  of  adjustment  of  foot  and  shoe.  The  set  conditions  of  a  pre- 
vious shoeing  under  which  the  muscles  have  developed  will  in  a  meas- 
ure interfere  with  the  results  of  a  subsequent  shoeing.  These  hold- 
over conditions  affect  also  the  tendons  and  ligaments  to  a  degree  pro- 
portionate to  the  length  of  time  that  those  former  conditions  pre- 
vailed. Sudden  and  complete  changes  are  also  fraught  with  danger. 
Only  by  means  of  gradual  changes  and  always  with  a  definite  object 
in  view,  as  well  as  with  the  records  of  all  changes  at  hand,  can  a  per- 
fection of  gait  be  logically  and  safely  brought  about.  In  all  experi- 
ments or  changes  it  is  of  paramount  importance  to  vary  one  thing  at  a 
-time.  The  demand  for  a  quick  correction  of  gait  is  too  prevalent,  and 
the  result  is  that  too  many  changes  at  one  shoeing  confuse  the  effects 
of  remedies.  We  deal  with  an  animal  mechanism  of  delicately  joined 
parts,  and  these  parts  will  not  allow  a  readjustment  of  its  machinery 
at  a  moment's  notice.  Insistence  on  a  marked  change,  or  the  total  ab- 


Requisites  of  Perfect  Balance  1 1 7 

sence  of  a  definite  plan  or  record  of  gait,  is  likely  to  render  those  parts 
liable  to  a  strain  and  breakdown.  It  is  therefore  desirable  to  allow  a 
large  amount  of  time  as  a  necessary  factor  in  balancing  a  horse.  It 
has  happened  that  after  horses  have  been  turned  out  or  given  a  rest 
from  continued  drilling  and  wrong  balancing,  they  resume  their  work 
with  better  prospects.  That  is  really  because  nature  had  time  to  re- 
adjust the  animal  machinery,  and  the  horse  could  start  under  better 
conditions,  or  under  conditions  suited  to  its  capacity.  It  shows  the 
danger  or  the  folly  of  forcing  balance.  This  "make-or-break"  policy 
is  based  on  impatience  and  the  rush  spirit  of  this  country.  It  has  no 
foundation  in  common  sense  or  logic  or  science.  By  granting  time 
it  is  not  understood  that  conditions  for  balancing  should  be  "cut  and 
dried"  beforehand  and  that  the  process  of  balancing  is  to  be  one  of 
making  the  horse  accommodate  itself  to  these  preconceived  ideas 
of  balancing.  Such  an  allowance  of  time  is  not  meant,  but  rather 
such  time  as  is  required  for  a  careful  investigation  and  understanding 
of  the  gait  of  that  particular  horse  and  for  the  logical  correction  of 
that  gait  by  means  of  the  records  of  the  results  of  each  corrective  shoe- 
ing. What  many  and  careful  experiments  have  taught  me  and  what 
seem  to  be  the  rules  applicable  to  all  kinds  of  horses,  I  shall  endeavor 
to  show  in  the  following  chapters. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


EXPERIMENTS  AND  THEIR  VERIFICATION. 


I.     GENERAL  CONSIDERATIONS. 

The  difficulty  of  experiments  of  this  sort  lies  in  the  fact  that  the 
locomotion  of  the  horse  is  a  complex  affair,  and  that  the  conditions 
and  causes  from  which  this  locomotion  proceeds  are  very  numerous. 
In  presenting  the  conclusions  of  such  experiments  it  is  hardly  neces- 
sary or  feasible  to  give  the  original  measurements  as  was  done  in  a 
previous  chapter.  The  computations  may  be  relied  on  as  correct.  With 
all  the  opportunity,  accuracy  and  perseverance  at  my  command,  all 
my  experiments  were  made  with  a  view  of  drawing  from  them  some 
general  principles  applying  to  all  cases.  While  David  Roberge's 
theory  of  pointing  was  used  as  a  basis,  there  appeared  in  these  experi- 
ments certain  discrepancies  between  it  and  my  results,  which  at  times 
called  for  an  independent  line  of  reasoning.  I  believe  that  all  ob- 
servation and  deduction  in  any  investigation  should  be  as  free  as  pos- 
sible from  the  influence  of  authority  on  that  subject ;  for,  without  the 
right  of  independent  thought  or  without  a  spirit  of  dissent  for  the  sake 
of  the  truth,  no  progress  can  well  be  realized.  No  authority  should 
be  considered  as  entirely  final  or  unassailable,  even  though  it  furnish 
us  with  a  certain  guidance  or  mental  discipline.  We  can,  I  believe,  be 
both  critical  and  just  at  the  same  time,  and  this  has  been  my  endeavor 
in  dealing  with  the  ingenious  principles  of  Roberge. 

Granting,  therefore,  the  assistance  derived  from  the  theory  of 
pointing,  this  investigation  was  nevertheless  carried  out  to  establish 
facts  not  contained  therein  and  to  prove  independently  whether  at  all 
times  and  under  the  same  conditions  the  results  would  give  a  general 
law.  All  repetitions  of  like  effects  from  like  causes  must  give  such  a 

118 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  119 

general  law.  It  is  the  rule  for  all  experiments,  especially  where  so 
many  conditions  prevail  as  in  balancing  equine  locorrfotion,  to  vary  but 
one  thing  at  a  time.  When  the  observer  is  face  to  face  with  a  case  for 
which  an  immediate  remedy  is  asked,  he  is  apt  to  rush  into  at  once 
applying  various  changes.  Time,  which  is  so  essential  a  part  of  bal- 
ance, is  not  granted,  and  impatience  demands  a  quick  remedy.  A  lack 
of  knowledge  of  the  intricate  inter-relation  of  the  four  moving  legs 
and  the  indifference  to  any  proof,  sucfi  as  measurements  show,  will 
leave  the  matter  of  improving  the  gait  to  the  doubtful  process  of 
guessing. 

These  facts  make  experimenting  extremely  difficult,  and  sometimes 
unsatisfactory.  If,  therefore,  one  change  in  shoeing  does  not  prove  to 
be  beneficial,  it  should  not  be  conclusive  evidence  that  such  a  change  in 
itself  is  harmful.  Another  change  in  combination  with  the  first  may 
lead  to  better  results.  But  without  any  evidence  such  as  the  ground 
produces,  no  rational  improvement  of  the  various  conditions  of  balance 
can  be  effected.  What  evidence  is  there?  has  always  been  my  query 
previous  to  planning  my  present  analysis  of  gait.  It  was  on  this  ac- 
count that  I  was  not  quite  fully  convinced  of  the  truth  of  all  of  Ro- 
berge's  assertions,  no  matter  how  plausible  and  conclusive  they  ap- 
peared to  be,  until  repeated  experiments  proved  his  theory  of  pointing 
to  be  correct  in  its  main  principles  and  deductions.  This  method  of 
analyzing  the  gait  revealed  certain  facts,  and  the  experiments  based  on 
them  yielded  results  which  seemed  to  prove  the  usefulness  of  such  an 
investigation.  The  method  itself  is  a  logical  indicator  of  correction 
and  may  aid  the  natural  ingenuity  of  the  American  farrier  in  the  ap- 
plication of  the  proper  shoes.  The  more  I  saw  that  practical  and 
permanent  results  came  from  a  methodical  analysis  of  a  gait,  the 
more  it  became  evident  that  at  all  stages  of  development  it  was  neces- 
sary to  have  an  absolute  proof  not  only  of  the  manner  of  motion,  but 
also  of  the  results  of  the  applied  corrections. 

It  has  seemed  to  me  that  the  presentation  of  this  whole  matter  of 
the  analysis  of  the  gait  is  a  little  premature,  inasmuch  as  it  does  not 
give  as  ample  a  proof  for  the  pacer  as  it  does  for  the  trotter,  and  be- 
cause the  corrective  shoeing  here  discussed  may  not  cover  every  case 


I2O  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

in  question.  But  time  and  opportunity  bid  me  make  as  good  an  offer- 
ing as  is  possible  after  much  patient  inquiry  and  effort.  The  experi- 
ments worked  out  on  many  subjects  were  sufficiently  verified,  I  think, 
to  warrant  certain  generalizations.  Given,  therefore,  a  certain  manner 
of  equine  locomotion,  the  correction  of  any  faults  of  it  may  be  worked 
out  on  such  general  principles  rather  than  on  lines  of  specific  remedies 
for  each  individual  case.  At  any  rate,  my  method  of  analyzing  the 
gait  will  serve  a  good  purpose  even  if  the  applications  of  remedies 
differ  from  those  of  mine.  To  my  critics  I  will  say  that  nothing 
would  please  me  more  than  if  they  "go  me  one  better'/  in  the  propei 
correction  of  a  faulty  gait  by  means  of  my  method  of  analysis  or  by 
any  other  method  except  guess-work. 

These  preliminary  remarks  are  intended  to  impress  upon  the 
mind  of  the  reader  the  importance  of  correct  data  on  every  case  under 
investigation.  In  balancing  the  horse  in  motion  one  is  apt  to  be  guided 
by  the  imperfect  observations  of  the  eye  when  such  definite  data  are 
not  obtained. 

Shoeing  itself,  is  an  art,  but  the  correction  of  faults  of  gait  by 
means  of  shoeing  and  trimming  the  foot  should  be  worked  more  on 
the  exact  lines  of  a  science.  When  farriers,  therefore,  are  endeavor- 
ing to  remove  an  actual  rather  than  a  probable  cause  of  a  faulty  gait, 
they  will  be  able  to  do  work  with  more  satisfaction  to  themselves. 

A  remedy  in  shoeing,  such  as -shape  or  weight  of  shoe  or  length 
and  angle  of  toe,  may  not  be  a  permanent  one  and  yet  have  a  good 
temporary  effect.  That  is  to  say,  we  may  safely  apply  a  different  shoe 
on  one  foot  for  a  time  only  in  order  to  correct  the  motion  of  a  certain 
leg,  if  we  have  found  such  leg  deficient  in  action  or  extension.  Or, 
again,  we  may  find,  also  by  this  analysis,  that  there  is  a  structural  fault 
in  the  leg  or  the  foot  which  calls  for  a  permanent  remedy  in  the  shape 
or  weight  of  a  shoe  different  from  the  other  three.  For  instance,  one 
leg  may  be  shorter  and  we  may  correct  the  defect  by  a  permanent 
lengthening  of  that  leg  or  shortening  of  opposite  leg.  Then  there  is 
the  "hitch"  behind  and  that  peculiar  laboring  in  front,  which  both 
cause  a  rough  and  unsatisfactory  gait.  It  means  but  an  unequal  ex- 
tension of  opposite  legs,  and  no  horse  can  produce  a  smooth  and  square 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  121 

gait  with  these  faults  uncorrected.  Though  the  ear  may  listen  and  the 
eye  may  strain  to  catch  the  irregularity,  they  cannot  come  up  to  the 
evidence  on  the  ground. 

Again,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  proper  balance  of  a 
horse's  action,  whether  it  be  at  slow  or  fast  speed,  produces  that  quality 
of  motion  which  with  the  least  exertion  brings  about  the  most  regular 
and  even  action. 

I  have  always  been  of  the  opinion  that  the  neglect  of  the  hind 
action  is  responsible  for  a  good  part  of  the  problems  "of  balance.  In 
many  horses  we  cultivate  an  excessive  action  in  front  for  the  avowed 
purpose  of  clearing  fore  feet  from  hind  feet ;  and  at  the  same  time  we 
do  nothing  to  regulate  the  hind  action.  With  the  hope  of  bringing 
about  a  greater  separation  between  fore  and  hind  feet  so  as  to  pre- 
vent interference,  all  efforts  seem  to  be  directed  toward  higher  action 
in  front.  Somehow  it  is  assumed  that  such  a  course  will  cause  the  fore 
to  extend  forward  more  and  avoid  interference  thereby,  besides  in- 
creasing speed.  My  observations  lead  me  to  believe  that  such  en- 
deavors are  based  on  a  lack  of  knowledge  of  the  inter-relation  of  the 
four  legs. 

Extremely  high  action  in  front  must  always  be  considered  faulty 
from  the  standpoint  of  utility,  as  well  as  from  that  of  beauty.  It 
does  not  conform  to  a  proper  idea  or  definition  of  balance.  There  is 
also  another  consideration  against  it,  namely,  that  of  its  effect  on  hind 
action.  Somehow  the  action  behind  is  hardly  ever  a  subject  of  cor- 
rection. It  is  left  severely  alone  because  the  prevalent  idea  about  it 
has  been  that  hind  legs  should  reach  as  far  forward  as  possible  so  as 
to  get  a  good  forward  hold  on  ground  and  effect  propulsion.  But  in 
all  my  experience  it  has  always  been  noticed  that  the  action  at  both 
extremities,  that  is,  the  sum  total  of  both  actions,  is  nearly  a  fixed 
quantity  with  every  horse.  It  may  be  slightly  increased  or  diminished 
as  a  whole  by  shoeing  and  by  the  consequent  development  or  disuse 
of  certain  muscles  and  tendons ;  but  on  the  whole  the  distribution  of 
action  between  fore  and  hind  could  be  indicated  by  the  figures  3  and  2, 
or  by  saying  that  three-fifths  of  the  action  belongs  to  the  fore  and 
two-fifths  to  the  hind  legs.  Some  may  hold  it  is  still  ipore  in  dispro- 


122  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

portion  and  may  set  the  figures  at  3  and  I.  Whether  its  total  is  repre- 
sented by  5  or  by  4,  there  seems  to  be  a  mutual  exchange  of  action 
between  the  two  extremities.  If,  for  instance,  in  Fig.  88  -we  assume 
A  B  (5)  and  A'  B'  (4)  to  represent  the  total  action  of  both  extremities, 
then  N  or  N'  will  indicate  the  fixed  proportion  between  the  portions 
of  the  line  it  divides  as  given.  While  A  B  is  more  or  less  fixed,  N  is 
likely  to  be  variable  or  may  be  assumed  to  be  so.  Whichever  way  N 
may  move,  it  establishes  the  ratio  of  action  by  its  division  of  the  line 
A  B.  IfAN  represents  the  front  action,  then  N  B,  the  remainder, 
will  show  the  hind  action.  If  the  front  action  is  increased,  as  in 
second  diagram,  to  A'  N'  again,  the  remainder  N'  B'  will  indicate  the 
hind  action.  This  is  offered  only  as  an  illustration  of  the  apparent 

FI6.86 


6 


AN:    NB  -  3:  2 
A'N':  N'B'=4:l 

counter  effect  of  one  action  on  the  other.  If,  for  instance,  hind  action 
is  supposed  to  be  increased  to  B'  N",  the  front  action  will  diminish  and 
will  be  shown  as  A'  N".  This  is  not  to  be  taken  literally,  but  only  as 
an  indication  of  the  mutual  influence  of  front  and  hind  action. 

It  illustrates  my  observations  regarding  the  mutual  exchange  be- 
tween fore  and  hind  legs  of  that  nearly  fixed  total  action  of  both  ex- 
tremities. That  is  to  say,  the  more  action  in  front  the  less  action  be- 
hind, and,  vice  versa,  the  more  action  behind  the  less  action  in  front. 

Elsewhere  the  importance  of  the  services  of  the  trained  eye  and 
ear  have  been  emphasized ;  and  in  this  question  of  action,  which  by 
continual  representation  fixes  itself  before  the  observer,  the  eye  must 
also  be  called  upon  to  judge.  Again,  it  is  urged  that  any  judgment  on 
the  gait  should  be  passed  only  by  some  one  on  the  ground  while  the 
horse  passes  by,  or,  better  yet,  by  some  one  driving  alongside  the  sub- 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


123 


ject  of  observation.    The  man  in  the  sulky,  important  as  his  function 
is,  cannot  quite  form  a  correct  idea  of  the  action  of  the  horse. 

As  regards  the  idea  that  speed  requires  extreme  forward  ex- 
tension and  with  it  the  long  toe,  toe  weights,  and  what  not,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  recall  the  illustrations  of  a  previous  chapter  concerning 
the  pendulum-like  swing  of  leg  as  a  requisite  of  perfect  balance.  Per- 
fect balance  will  not  produce  unsoundness  such  as  curbs  and  swelled 
tendons,  but  too  great  a  forward  extension  is  apt  to  do  so.  In  Fig.  89 
are  given  the  points  of  shoulder  (A)  and  buttock  (B)  of  a  moving 
horse.  The  pendulum  swing  of  fore  and  hind  leg  is  indicated  by  A  M, 
A  N,  B  M;  and  B  N',  these  being  at  equal  distances  from  the  vertical 
or  dotted  line.  The  weight  of  the  horse  seems  well  supported  and 
the  parallelogram  representing  the  body  and  legs  of  horse  moves  in 


V      /V  P       N  O'     M'          P'     N1 

F/G.  69 

good  symmetry.  But  let  us  force  the  forward  extension  of  legs  as  in- 
dicated by  A  O  and  B  O',  and  we  shall  have  a  corresponding  lesser  ex- 
tension backward,  as  in  A  P  and  B  P'.  It  is  apparent  that  the  support 
or  stability  of  the  parallelogram  is  weakened  every  time  it  is  in  the 
position  O  A  B  O',  or  at  extreme  extension  of  A  O  and  B  O'.  Add  to 
this  the  fact  that  the  line  A  B,  representing  the  body  of  the  horse,  is, 
in  consequence  of  such  excessive  forward  extension,  lowered  more 
than  when  such  extension  is  normal,  it  is  plainly  seen  how  unnatural 
and  dangerous  such  a  forced  extension  may  become. 

This  diagram  will  illustrate  what  is  erroneously  called  "lengthen- 
ing the  stride/7  which  in  reality  means  increasing  the  forward  ex- 
tension. The  danger  of  such  a  process  becomes  apparent  when  both 
extremities  act  in  the  same  manner,  the  belief  being  held  that  some- 
how the  hind  legs  ought  to  do  what  the  front  ones  do.  While  they 


124  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

ought  not  do  likewise,  nothing  is  done  to  make  hind  legs  do  otherwise, 
and  there  lies  the  trouble. 

In  a  previous  chapter  I  have  tried  to  show  the  difference  between 
the  curves  of  motion  of  fore  and  hind.  The  fore,  by  the  nature  of 
their  flexion,  will  describe  a  longer  and  higher  curve,  while  the  hind, 
incapable  of  as  great  a  flexion,  describe  a  lower  and  more  direct  curve ; 
and  it  will  'be  noticed  in  the  pictures  of  the  horses  in  motion  that  while 
the  hind  foot  does — and  should — strike  the  ground  together  with  its 
correlated  fore  foot,  it  does  leave  the  ground  often  a  little  after  the 
fore;  and,  again,  wherever  it  does  so  there  is  a  good  backward  ex- 
tension and  a  good  action  of  the  hind  legs. 

At  all  times  when  a  horse  is  going  squarely,  whether  trotting 
or  pacing,  and.  is  balanced  well,  the  fall  of  each  pair  of  feet  should 
take  place  exactly  at  the  two  time-beats.  No  irregularity  about  such 
synchronous  contact  of  the  two  correlated  feet  can  or  should  possibly 
exist  when  the  gait  is  perfect. 

This  lingering  backward  contact  of  hind  would  therefore  indicate 
that  wherever  we  induce  the  legs — especially  the  hind  ones — to  extend 
forward  to  excess  we  lose  this  full  effect  of  propulsion ;  that  is,  we 
lose  the  necessary  backward  extension  during  which  propulsion  seems 
to  be  and  is  far  more  effective.  Such  equalizing  of  fore  and  hind 
action  is  not  an  easy  matter  of  a  few  weeks,  but  will  take  months.  It 
should  be  done  during  the  winter  months,  when  shoeing  and  gaiting  is 
only  too  often  lost  sight  of  and  neglected.  It  is  then  just  as  important 
as  it  is  shortly  before  meetings,  for  time  is  an  essential  factor  in  any 
attempts  at  balancing.  This  is  the  more  rational  period  to  produce  the 
greater  separation  between  fore  and  hind  than  all  subsequent  attempts 
in  a  hurry  can  possibly  be.  On  the  whole,  I  think  it  reasonable  not  to 
over-develop  the  action  of  fore  and  to  pay  more  attention  to  the  greater 
development  of  hind  action.  The  usual  advice  given  about  the  inter- 
ference of  hind  with  fore — and  it  sounds  as  wise  as  it  is  indefinite — 
is  "to  quicken  and  round  up  his  action  in  front  and  shorten  his  stride 
behind."  Stress  should  be  laid  again  on  the  entirely  erroneous  ex- 
pression of  "shortening  the  stride."  In  another  place  I  have  taken 
exception  to  this  idea  of  "stride,"  for  we  cannot  shorten  the  stride  of 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  125 

any  one  or  of  any  two  legs  and. let  the  rest  of  them  go  along  at  a  longer 
stride.  At  that  rate  the  fore  would  become  separated  from  the  hind 
to  such  an  extent  that  they  would  no  longer  be  parts  of  the  same  horse. 
A  stride  is  a  step,  or  a  distance  from  toe  to  toe  or  heel  to  heel  of  the 
same  leg,  as  the  fashion  may  be.  We  can  therefore  shorten  the  jour 
strides  of  the  jour  legs  at  the  same  time,  but  we  cannot  reduce  the 
stride  of  one  or  two  of  them. 

The  trouble  is  that  "stride"  is  erroneously  used  for  "extension" 
and  particularly  for  forward  extension.  "Shortening  a  stride"  must 
therefore  be  placed  in  the  same  pigeonhole  as  "a  cross-tiring  trotter"  or 
"a  scalping  pacer,"  all  coming  under  the  heading  of  "human  error." 
What  is  really  meant  is  that  the  forward  extension  of  hind  should  be 
checked  and  a  greater  backward  extension  effected.  Hence  my  plea 
for  the  power  and  effect  of  proper  backward  extension.  This,  in  fact, 
is  done  nowadays  to  a  larger  extent  by  leaving  the  angle  of  hind  toe 
greater  by  3  to  5  degrees  than  that  of  the  fore,  and  by  having  the  toe  of 
the  hind  shorter  by  Y%  to  ^  of  an  inch  than  that  of  the  fore.  It  is  a 
double  application  of  the  theory  of  pointing,  namely,  by  decreasing  the 
pointing  forward  with  a  shorter  toe  and  increasing  the  pointing  back- 
ward by  a  higher  heel.  There  is  also,  with  these  remedies,  the  usual 
one  of  more  or  less  lengthened  heels  of  shoe  to  ease  contact  and  to 
direct  foot.  It  is  at  all  times  more  preferable  and  rational  to  limit 
the  extent  of  these  long  heels  of  shoe,  and  the  "freak"  shoes  of  former 
years  having  these  are  fortunately  a  thing  of  the  past. 

II. — THE  TURNS  OF  THE  TRACK  AND  THE  GENERAL  DIRECTIONS  OF 

THE  FEET. 

In  dealing  with  the  irregularity  of  extension,  especially  in  fore 
legs,  mention  was  made  in  a  previous  chapter  of  the  habit  horses  have 
of  reaching  forward  with  either  left  or  right  in  preference.  In  the 
gaits  of  the  saddle  horse  this  is  a  well-known  feature,  but  we  are  not 
so  conscious  of  such  a  preference  in  the  trotter  and  pacer.  Investi- 
gations, however,  have  proved  that  a  subject  will  habitually  set  one 
fore  foot  ahead  of  the  other.  It  is  not  a  harmful  habit,  provided  the 
difference  of  extension  does  not  become  excessive. 


126  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


On  the  turns  of  our  oval  tracks  the  so-called  "left  habit"  is  not  a 
bad  acquisition.  Ordinarily  the  horse  will  lean  to  the  left,  thereby 
shifting  its  center  of  gravity  to  the  inside  and  counteracting  the  cen- 
trifugal force  which  tends  to  send  the  body  straight  ahead  on  a  tan- 
gent to  that  curve.  What  is  true  of  the  fore  legs  in  this  respect  is  also 


F/G'30. 

trotter  around  turn 


true  of  the  hind  legs.  The  off  fore  as  well  as  the  off  hind  act  as 
braces  against  the  centrifugal  force  and  their  positions  on  the  off  side 
insure  a  well  taken  turn.  In  order  to  effect  a  bracing  by  the  off  side 
the  off  fore  is  placed  slightly  behind  near  fore  and  the  off  hind  is 
placed  slightly  in  advance  of  near  hind. 


FIG.  9 i 

pacer  around  turn 


Special  trials  around  a  curve  or  turn  gave  evidence  of  facts  well 
worth  considering.  There  is  always  more  danger  of  interference  be- 
tween hind  and  fore  at  the  turns.  The  trotter  will  suffer  from  such 
interference  on  either  side  and  the  pacer  between  opposite  sides.  It 
becomes  therefore  of  great  importance  to  ascertain  the  difference  of 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


127 


extensions  on  the  straight-away  course  and  adapt  or  modify  these 
according  to  the  requirements  necessary  for  the  turn,  so  that  the 
horse  is  able,  without  distress  or  fear,  to  propel  itself  equally  well  on 
the  straight  course  as  well  as  on  the  turns. 

Figs.  90  and  91  give  each  the  two  possible  extensions  for  the 
trotter  and  the  pacer,  showing  the  right  and  the  left  habit  around  the 
turns.  In  Fig.  92  we  have  an  attitude  such  as  proved  to  be  of  great 
benefit  to  a  trotter  that  could  not  take  the  turns  well  before  such  an 
extension  of  off  hind  took  effect,  as  given.  It  might  be  well  to  say 


Actual 
extensions 
around  turn 
See  shoeing 
FIG.  95, 


Dist.  between   of  and  nh 
D/5t .  between    n  f  and  oh  •• 
Difference  bet". pairs  of 

Correlated  feet, 
A  veraoje  ctisr.  =  4-  ft. 


. 

3.39  ff. 

.22  ff.  or  2.6+ir, 


that  the  habit  of  starting  with  left  or  right  fore  need  not  necessarily 
exist,  but  there  may  be  unequal  extensions  due  to  faulty  shoeing  or 
adjustment.  At  any  rate,  the  averages  of  a  straight  course  will  give  us 
the  clew  to  any  trouble  there  may  be  at  the  turns.  In  this  particular 
case,  which  will  serve  for  all  cases,  the  attitude  of  the  feet,  or  rather 
their  average  tendency  of  extension,  is  given  to  show  the  requisites  for 
a  good  position  at  turns.  While  it  still  remains  true  that  the  distances 
of  the  correlated  feet  should  be  equal  for  both  left  and  right  extensions, 
there  must  necessarily  be  a  slight  variation  from  that  rule  at  the  turns. 
Here  an  extra  effort  is  made  to  counteract  direct  forward  propulsion 


128  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

and  to  send  the  body  to  the  left  without  loss  of  speed.  We  find  the 
near  fore  averaging  i  inch  ahead  of  off  fore  and  the  off  hind  3^2 
inches  in  advance  of  near  hind. 

I  regret  not  having  any  data  of  pacers  going  around  the  turns,, 
but  the  reader  will  readily  see  why  pacers  should  take  the  turns  more 
easily  than  trotters.  To  begin  with,  pacers  shift  their  center  of  gravity 
more  readily  from  side  to  side.  It  is  in  the  nature  of  their  gait.  In 
the  diagonal  motion  of  the  trotter  the  center  of  gravity  does  not  shift 
so  readily  to  the  left  at  the  turns  and  in  the  attempt  to  do  so  the  equality 
of  distance  between  the  correlated  feet  is  apt  to  be  disurbed.  With  the 
lateral  locomotion  not  only  is  the  swing  from  side  to  side  favorable  to 
taking  the  turns  well,  but  there  is  always  a  more  natural  support  with 
both  legs  on  the  outside  which  are  thrust  forward  at  the  same  time ;. 
and  there  is  also  a  greater  possibility  to  maintain  the  equality  of  the 
distances  between  the  correlated  or  lateral  feet.  But  for  a  possible 
cross-firing  there  seems  to  be  less  chance  for  a  break. 

Judging  from  the  mare  Alone  2:09-^,  whose  gait  has  been  dis- 
cussed in  another  chapter,  and  which  took  the  turns  well,  it  would  seem 
that  the  pacer  as  well  as  the  trotter  is  better  able  to  take  a  turn  by 
endeavoring  to  get  a  good  support  on  the  outside.  The  pacer  is  better 
braced  against  tipping  over  to  outside  by  having  his  two  feet  there 
always  at  the  same  distance  from  each  other,  while  the  trotter  has  his 
outside  feet  move  in  opposite  directions.  There  is  with  the  trotting 
action  a  continual  opening  and  closing  of  legs  on  the  outside  of  turn. 
Therefore,  his  support  is  not  as  steady  and  may  further  be  weakened 
by  a  possible  interference,  such  as  scalping  or  speedy-cutting.  While 
in  front  his  leaning  to  inside  will  induce  him  to  carry  left  fore  slightly 
in  advance  of  right  fore,  the  right  hind  leg  will  endeavor,  as  shown  in 
Fig.  92,  to  act  as  a  brace  and  to  gain  a  better  foothold  and  support  by 
preceding  the  left  hind  leg.  In  this  effort  the  right  hind  leg  is  carried 
more  to  the  outside  than  it  would  on  the  straight  course,  as  we  shall 
directly  see  by  comparing  the  averages  of  10  strides  taken  at  curve  and 
at  straight  course  immediately  following  turn. 

In  Fig.  93  this  comparison  brings  out  the  position  of  these  lines 
of  motion  with  reference  to  the  median  line.  The  median  line  around 


r 

Experiments  and  their  Verification 


129 


the  curve  is  toward  left  side,  showing  the  left  hind  on  its  proper  side, 
-while  both  fore  and  the  right  hind  are  much  farther  away  from  it.  It 
illustrates  the  force  of  motion  that  tends  to  throw  the  body  toward  the 
outside. 

In  the  straight  course  (second  diagram),  the  lines  of  motion  are 
readjusted  to  the  normal  and  the  feet  move  in  their  ordinary  lines  or 
nearly  so.  Fig.  94  illustrates  again  the  almost  equal  extension  of 

V 

straight  course  (the  right  fore  being  now  slightly  in  advance  of  left 
fore)  and  the  somewhat  lessened  extension  of  right  hind  over  left  hind 
(3  inches).  Other  experiments  have  shown  that  wherever  the  off  hind 


nh 

1 


FIG.  93 

nf     of 

LJ 


on 

1 


5/5 A  bet-,  frogs  of  fore  =  -^  in 
?/iS/-.  bet.  frogs  of  hind  =  J  9/>o  tn 


Distances  reduced  one.  half 
Dotted  line  is  median  line  . 


*                                   nf 

\ 

Of                               oh 

\       \ 

Dish  be/:  frogs  of  fore  =  6//<j  in 
Dish  bef.  frogs  of  hind^=  S^o  in 

acts  in  that  free  forward  extension  the  turns  are  taken  more  easily 
than  where  it  is  held  back  and  follows  the  near  hind ;  but  there  should 
be  at  the  same  time  a  slight  but  not  excessive  extension  of  near  fore 
over  that  of  off  fore.  If  such  extension  of  near  fore  is  excessive  and 
the  off  fore  points  back  too  far  in  consequence,  there  is  again  the 
danger  not  only  of  interference  with  off  hind,  but  also  of  lack  of  support 
by  off  fore  at  the  turns.  The  principal  requisites  -for  taking  a  turn  well 
arc,  therefore,  first,  a  slight  increase  in  forward  extension  of  near  fore 
over  off  fore,  and  secondly,  a  more  marked  increase  of  off  hind  exten- 
sion to  effect  the  szvinging  of  the  body  to  the  left  and  to  prevent  a  loss 
of  equilibrium. 


130  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

In  the  straight  course,  after  taking  the  turn,  the  trotter  in  ques- 
tion showed  an  increase  in  the  difference  between  the  two  pair  of 
moving  legs.  That  is,  the  distance  between  off  fore  and  its  mate,  the 
near  hind,  was  3.36  inches  greater  than  the  distance  between  the  near 
fore  and  its  mate,  the  off  hind.  In  other  words,  while  the  first  pair 
separated  in  extension  the  latter  approached.  Comparing  Figs.  92  and 
94,  where  such  tendencies  are  shown,  this  will  become  more  evident. 

Such  are  the  conditions  which  favor  taking  a  turn  with  greater 
ease,  but  in  this  case  the  difference  of  extensions  was  rather  too  marked 
to  call  the  gait  quite  satisfactory.  There  should  be  a  closer  approach 

f/o.94 


Acfua/ 
extensions 
on  straight' 
course  . 
See  shoeing 
FlO.957 


IV 


Disf'  between  of  and  nh*4-.2/  ft. 
0/st.  bel lween  nFand  oh  =  3.93  fr. 

Difference  bet.  pairs  • 

of  cor  related  feer  .28  Ff  «  3. 36  in . 

Average,  d/'sf.  -   4-.07  ff. 

to  equality  in  the  distances  of  the  correlated  feet.  If  the  subject  has 
this  favorable  extension  at  the  turns  only,  there  is  not  much  danger  of 
a  disordered  gait,  for  the  difference  will,  of  course,  be  less  on  the 
stretch. 

While  Lou  Dillon's  gait  was  exceedingly  interesting  to  observe 
on  account  of  her  marvelous  speed  and  remarkable  action,  it  can  not 
quite  serve  as  a  standard  for  the  large  majority  of  slower  trotters. 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


13* 


The  principal  deviation  of  her  gait  from  the  general  standard  is  the 
crossing  over  of  her  front  legs.  It  was  an  ingenious  device  to  avoid 
interference,  but  it  is  hard  to  tell  whether  this  was  due  to  her  intuition 
or  to  a  fortunate  structural  adjustment  in  her  speed  mechanism.  We 
may,  now  and  then,  find  such  a  mode  of  locomotion  with  other  trotters, 
but  are  more  likely  to  observe  that  the  hind  feet  follow  the  fore  feet, 
or  nearly  so.  The  trotting  or  pacing  motions  usually  proceed  on  straight 
lines,  and  in  subsequent  trials,  here  shown  or  alluded  to,  the  line  trot 
and  its  approximation  should  always  be  considered  as  the  usual  loco- 
motion  of  the  trotter. 


no.es 


F/G.S6* 


3  in 
be  full  bin  toe  f/u 


+oes  *>  J  in  . 
'foe  bars,  tilted  to  right- 
flush  a//o<?5 


web    thicker 

at  heels 


foes  =  J  in 
52°+ t°(nee/sj      52° 
htels  of  equal  lenyth  . 
Stride  -  /S.84-  (on  stretch  ) 
Stride.  -  /S.27  (on  turn ) 


we6  thicker  we6  sam 

at  heels  of  heels 

52  «  +  /•  (heeb)  S2° 

fonqer  heels  on  oTi 

foes  -  J*  //» 
Stride,  =    16  II  (onsfrerch  ) 


The  subject  to  be  discussed  in  this  matter  of  taking  the  turns  of 
the  track  was  a  standard  bred  mare  by  McKinney  with  good  trotting 
action  and  fair  speed.  Being  owned  by  me  she  was  in  my  complete 
control,  and  I  was,  therefore,  not  subjected  to  another  man's  limit  of 
time  or  of  patience.  This  mare,  like  many  other  good  trotters,  re- 
sponded well  to  all  changes  of  adjustments,  and  it  was  always  more  of 
a  pleasure  than  a  task  to  work  out  the  results  of  her  trials. 

Shod,  as  given  in  Fig.  95,  this  mare  was  able  to  take  the  turns 
much  better  than  before.  This  shoeing  was  one  in  a  series  where  slight 
changes  were  made  in  order  to  ascertain  the  results  of  these  change^. 
To  understand  the  effect  of  the  change  indicating  an  improvement  in 


132  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

the  right  direction — even  though  this  does  not  mean  a  proper  remedy — » 
I  give  Fig.  96  as  illustrating  the  shoeing  three  weeks  before.  There 
the  stride  was  16.11  feet,  while  for  the  trial,  three  weeks  later,  it  waa 
15.84  feet  (Fig.  95),  a  difference  of  0.27  feet,  or  3*4  inches. 

Before  we  jump  at  any  conclusions  why  she  took  the  turns  better 
when  shod  as  in  Fig.  95  than  as  in  Fig.  96,  the  latter  shoeing  should 
be  looked  into.  With  the  greater  stride  (16.11  feet)  at  the  previous 
shoeing  than  at  that  of  Fig.  95  (15.84),  by  a  difference  of  3^  inches, 
there  is  in  the  latter  trial,  on  the  straight  course  after  the  turn,  a 
greater  separation  between  fore  and  hind  feet,  and  a  consequent 
smaller  overstep  of  hind  over  fore.  According  to  observations  made, 
we  would  naturally  expect  in  the  slower  gait  a  smaller  likelihood  of 
interference  between  hind  and  fore,  because  the  extension  of  both  fore 
and  hind  is  not  as  great ;  but  here  the  difference  between  the  strides  is 
only  3J4  inches  and  yet  the  average  overstep  in  the  previous  trial  with 
the  i6.n  feet  stride  is  greater  by  0.6  feet  or  7.2  inches  than  the  over- 
step of  the  second  trial  with  the  15.84  feet  stride.  That  is,  the  over- 
step of  the  trial  with  the  16.11  feet  average  stride  is  4.45  feet  and 
that  of  the  15.84  feet  average  stride  is  3.85  feet.  These  differences 
occur  on  the  same  straightaway  course  after  the  turn,  which  later  will 
be  considered  separately.  In  proportion  the  average  distance  between 
hind  and  fore  is  3.61  feet  in  the  previous  trial  and  4.07  feet  in  the  sub- 
sequent trial,  a  difference  of  0.46  feet,  or  5.52  inches.  This  separation 
indicates  clearly  that  such  differences  do  not  depend  upon  the  mere 
increase  of  stride  of  3%  inches. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  hind  toes,  or  the  hind  feet,  are  %  inch 
longer  than  the  fore  feet,  the  latter  being  3  inches  and  the  former 
3^  inches;  and  this  is  an  important  feature  in  the  separation  of  the 
extremities.  It  indicates  that  hind  had  greater  extension  because  of 
such  greater  length,  as  subsequent  experiments  have  proved  time  and 
again.  Hence,  their  greater  approach  towards  the  fore. 

Take  the  shoeing  of  Fig.  96  and  we  have  the  extension  of  right 
fore  0.115  feet  or  1.38  inches  greater  than  that  of  left  fore.  That  is, 
the  right  fore  travels  ahead  of  the  left  fore  by  that  much.  Behind  it 
was  found  that  the  left  hind  traveled  ahead  of  the  right  hind  by  0.205 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  133 

feet,  or  2.46  inches,  as  given  in  Fig.  97.  There  is,  therefore,  a  closer 
approach  between  right  fore  and  left  hind  by  nearly  i  inch  (2.46 — 1.38) 
than  there  is  between  the  other  two  moving  legs.  Both  front  feet  are 
shod  exactly  alike ;  hence  the  difference  must  arise  from  the  uneven 
extension  of  hind  feet.  In  this  case  the  leg  that  lagged  before  was  the 
left  hind  and  the  foot  was  given  the  heavier  shoe  and  the  shorter  and 
higher  heels.  The  result  is  what  was  expected;  but  such  greater  ac- 
tivity of  the  left  hind  is  transmitted  in  some  degree  to  its  mate,  the 

Extensions  ofj/>oe/f)<r 
of  f,9  96  . 


14-6,'n 


3.65ft. 
D/$t.of-nh  =  3.57ft; 
Diff.  btf.  pairs  -  08  //. 

or    .96  in  . 
Average  ctisf.  =  3.61ft. 

off  fore,  and  hence  this  leg  has  the  greater  extension  over  its  opposite 
mate,  the  near  fore.  In  many  other  cases  such  influence  of  one  foot 
upon  its  moving  mate  has  caused  annoying  results. 

As  has  been  before  indicated  we  can  balance  the  feet  with  reference 
to  front  or  hind  extension,  but  we  must  also  take  into  account  the  inter- 
relation of  the  fore  and  hind  as  they  move  in  closely  related  or  corre- 
lated pairs.  Hence  a  change  in  one  hind  foot  will  call  for  a  change  in 
the  correlated  fore  foot,  always  with  a  view  to  having  the  distances 
between  the  fore  and  hind,  that  move  together,  as  nearly  the  same  as 
possible. 


134 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


Attention  should  be  called  to  the  longer,  even  if  flatter,  heels  of 
the  right  hind,  which  were  supposed  to  check  the  forward  extension. 
This  shoeing  compared  with  previous  ones  resulted  in  reversing  the 
extension  behind  from  the  greater  right  to  the  greater  left  extension. 
Weight  of  shoes  and  the  length  and  height  of  heels  are  the  main  re- 
sponsible features.  Weight  behind  by  itself  increases  extension  behind 
and  length  of  heels  by  itself  is  apt  to  do  the  same.  Briefly  stated  we 
have  here  in  Figs.  96-97,  an  increased  extension  of  near  hind — which 
lagged  before — due  both  to  a  heavier  shoe  and  to  a  higher  heel  facil- 
itating break-over  at  toe.  The  longer  heels  on  off  hind  against  such  an 
adjustment  favor  this  extension  of  near  hind.  Under  the  other  con- 


f/0.98 


3%  in 
foe. 


6  -    SO0-     8 


swelled  heels 


8-     S2°-   /O 
/5.50ft 


Straight  web 
heeJs  /+ in  longer 
than   n  h 


f/o.  39. 

ditions  of  Figs.  95-94,  the  shorter  heels  and  setting  of  shoe  at  toe  again 
brought  out  the  previous  excessive  extension  of  off  hind,  but  modified 
it  by  the  adjustment  on  the  near  hind.  Incidentally  it  may  be  said 
that  shape  of  shoe  is  an  essential  feature  in  regulating  action.  For  in- 
stance, Fig.  98  gives  an  experimental  shoeing  to  study  the  effect  of 
action  on  extension  behind.  Here  we  have  the  Memphis  shoe  on  the 
left  foot  and  a  plain  shoe  on  right  foot.  The  left  shoe  is  2  oz.  lighter 
than  the  right  shoe.  Conditions  of  toe  length  and  angle  are  alike.  The 
result  was  that  right  hind  preceded  left  hind  by  J/£  foot  in  extension. 
The  2  oz.  extra  weight  on  the  right  fore  did  not  seem  to  effect  a  greater 
extension,  but  in  the  variation  of  the  strides  from  the  average  stride  of 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


135 


15.50  feet,  it  is  evident  that  the  right  hind  has  the  greater  activity.  In 
fact,  the  record  shows  that  left  hind  sank  into  ground  and  the  toe- 
mark  indicated  the  disadvantage  of  such  impression  as  against  that  of 
the  right  hind,  which  was  set  down  squarely  and  showed  no  effort  at 
toe.  The  2  oz.  extra  weight  may  cause — as  it  generally  does — that  ac- 
tivity, but  the  retarding  effect  of  left  hind  checks  the  right  fore  and  as 
a  result  we  have  the  average  extension  for  20  strides  equally  divided 
in  front,  or  for  each  fore  7.75  feet,  as  given  in  Fig.  100.  And  so  the 
increase  of  elevation  of  left  hind  by  means  of  this  Memphis  shoe  has 


Extensions  of 
Shoeing  oFf/y.98. 


Extensions  of 
Shoeing  of  fig. 99 


n 


2  jo  !n, 


Disl:  of-nh  =  3.S6M. 
Di5t.nf-oh  =  3.07ft 
Diff.  bet. pairs  »  .+9  fh 

or    6. 88  in. 
Average  dish.  ~   J.  32  •&. 


Disl:  nF -oh  -  3.67ft. 

Disl-.oF  -  nh  =  !.62/>. 

J)lff .  bet  pairs  *    .OS  ft. 

or. 6  in . 

Average  disl~.  -  3.65 ff. 


decreased  its  extension,  while  the  right  hind  was  aided  in  extension 
not  only  by  less  elevation  of  action,  but  a  heavier  shoe  as  well. 

Taking  the  same  conditions  of  fore,  and  changing  hind  shoes,  as 
given  in  Fig.  99,  we  bring  about  a  sudden  change  behind,  as  given  in 
Fig.  101,  namely,  we  find  the  left  hind  more  extended  over  right  hind 
by  0.175  feet,  or  2.10  inches,  and  we  also  find  that  right  fore  is  now 
more  extended  than  left  fore  by  1.68  inch.  Here,  again,  the  heavier 
shoe  on  left  hind  and  the  longer  heel  on  off  hind  have  shown  their 
effect  in  extension,  the  weight  increasing  same  on  left  hind  and  the 
longer  heels  on  right  hind  decreasing  it  apparently;  but  in  this  case 


136  Gait  of  tJie  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

the  breakover  at  toe  of  near  hind  seems  to  be  easier  because  of  its 
swelled  and  shorter  heels,  and  its  extension  may  therefore  have  been 
easier  also ;  and  hence  its  position  ahead  of  the  off  hind. 

It  should  not  be  assumed  that  the  mere  increase  of  2  oz.  on  right 
fore  brings  about  this  greater  extension ;  but  it  should  be  borne  in  mind 
that  this  right  fore  paddled  a  good  deal ;  that  is,  it  swung  outwardly 
when  leaving  ground  and  was  apt  to  toe  in  when  landing.  The  in- 
crease of  weight  simply  gave  it  a  better  direction  and  steadiness.  Of 
course,  paring  the  foot  by  lowering  inside  toe  had  a  good  deal  to  do 
with  such  direction ;  but  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  influence  of  left 
hind  leg  with  its  greater  extension  that  increase  of  weight  on  right 
fore  would  not  have  shown  up  so  markedly  in  greater  extension. 

In  this  matter  of  direction  it  may  be  here  inserted  that  the  bars 
of  the  Memphis  shoe,  by  proper  tilting,  can  be  made  to  accomplish 


nh 

\ 

FIG. 

n-F 

\ 

102 

of 

1 

•f 

u 

\. 

V 

I 

oli recfions  of  -fig.  96 . 
extension  reduced  one  half. 

good  results  in  directing  the  angle  of  lateral  extension,  that  is,  the  angle 
which  the  foot  describes  with  reference  to  the  median  line  when  a  line 
is  drawn  or  imagined  to  pass  through  the  middle  of  frog  and  point  of 
toe.  In  other  words,  the  toeing  in  or  toeing  out  can  be  modified  by 
such  bars.  It  will  be  noticed  that  bars  in  Fig.  96  are  tilted  to  the  right. 
It  was  found  that  this  condition  aggravated  the  peculiar  directions  of 
the  fore  feet.  While  in  this  case  the  left  naturally  toed  out  and  the 
right  fore  naturally  toed  in,  these  bars  made  matters  worse,  as  will  be 
seen  in  Fig.  102,  giving  the  averages  of  directions  and  distances  with 
reference  to  the  median  line.  Here  the  left  fore  toes  out  abnormally 
(11.4°)  and  the  right  fore  has  its  own  way  about  toeing  in  (—1°).  It 
will  be  noticed  that  the  minus  sign  here  indicates  the  opposite  direction 
to  that  which  the  right  fore  should  point  naturally,  namely  to  the 
outside. 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  137 

Fig.  103  will  show  the  directions  of  shoeing  illustrated  by  Fig.  95, 
where  bars  on  front  shoes  were  tilted  to  the  left.  The  error  of  di- 
rection is  immediately  corrected  by  such  a  change,  and  the  right  fore 
now  toes  out  2.6°.  Even  the  previous  shoeing  as  given  in  Fig.  99 
shows  by  the  directions  of  Fig.  104  a  better  line  of  action  in  fore  feet 
and  here  the  bars  are  supposed  to  be  square  across  the  shoe.  In  sub- 


FIG. 

103 

nh 

nf 

of 

'oh 

\ 

\ 

\ 

t 

i. 

\ 
..  5.6' 

(, 

I 

enteris/on  reduced  one 

sequent  trials  with  simply  a  bar  across  the  toe  and  none  at  heel  the 
proper  correction  of  the  faulty  directions  of  fore  was  always  accom- 
plished by  a  slight  tilt  of  bar  to  the  left,  thus  making  the  left  fore 
break  over  at  outside  toe  and  the  right  fore  at  inside  toe  ;  that  is,  the 
bar  with  lower  end  on  outside  made  the  left  fore  toe  in  or  gave  it  that 
tendency,  and  with  lower  end  on  inside,  made  the  right  fore  toe  out  or 
gave  it  that  tendency. 

FIG  10+ 

nh  nf  of  oh 

t  t  _  t  t 


directions  of  fig.  99  . 
ex  tens/  o/i  reduced 


Again,  it  must  be  remembered  that  all  such  directions  are  aided  by 
the  principle  of  pointing,  so  ably  and  fully  explained  by  David  Roberge, 
and  that  the  proper  paring  of  foot  with  such  corrections  in  view  is  part 
of  proper  balancing. 

These  various  shoeings  and  results  are  somewhat  suddenly  thrust 
upon  the  reader  without  an  apparently  proper  foundation  for  the 
principles  involved.  Later  experiments,  however,  will  verify  the  asser- 
tions here  expressed.  These  data  at  present  are  but  a  part  of  a  series 


138  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

of  such  investigations  and  will  at  least  show  the  difficulties  encountered 
in  so  intricate  a  problem  as  balancing.  As  the  subject  unfolds  itself 
before  our  view  it  will  become  manifest  that  there  are  certain  definite 
rules  which  cover  certain  points  in  all  cases,  except  such  where  an  ab- 
normal structural  fault  is  beyond  remedy  for  speed  or  proper  action. 
Were  it  not  true  that  from  these  investigations  of  gaits  there  were 
found  certain  principles  whose  applications  produced  certain  results 
in  all  cases,  it  would  be  useless  for  me  to  write  this  book.  My  object  is 
to  generalize,  if  possible,  so  that  not  one  particular  horse  under  one 
particular  man  and  under  particular  conditions  can  be  improved  in  gait, 
but  rather  that  all  horses  under  reasonable  conditions  and  treatment 
can  be  made  to  respond  to  an  application  of  certain  principles  so 
generalized. 

The  example  of  this  particular  mare  is  only  one  in  many  where 
similar  difficulties  were  encountered  and  overcome  by  such  principles. 
I  do  not  believe  that  balancing  one  horse  does  necessarily  carry  with  it 
a  great  secret  of  knowledge  or  of  training  which  does  not  in  some  way 
apply  to  another  horse.  While  the  pride  of  a  trainer  may  be  readily 
understood,  his  successful  treatment  of  a  case  should  have  certain 
elements  of  remedies  applicable  to  all  similar  cases.  Time  and  obser- 
vation are  the  great  factors  in  such  remedies.  The  lapping  of  one  shoe- 
ing over  another  in  the  effects  brought  out  is  another  factor  to  be 
counted  on.  We  influence  locomotion  by  the  shape  of  foot  and  shoe. 
It  responds,  and  yet  when  another  change  is  made  remnants  of  the 
previous  shoeing  are  in  evidence.  It  seems  but  rational  that  such 
changes  take  place  gradually  and  slowly,  owing  to  the  fact  that  by  a 
change  we  impress  the  brain  and  the  tissues  of  the  muscles  and  induce 
a  gradual  transformation.  Quick  remedies  are  simply  impossibilities. 
If  a  trainer  or  shoer  strikes  it  just  right  by  sheer  luck  or  guess  it  is  not 
entirely  due  to  that  quick  change,  but  to  the  combination  of  the  last 
change  with  the  still  remaining  effects  of  previous  shoeings.  With 
gradual  changes  and  such  as  are  based  on  a  rational  diagnosis  of  the 
case,  the  remedy  is  likely  to  be  not  only  more  sure  but  also  more  per- 
manent. 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  139 

This  mare,  therefore,  whose  shoeing  we  have  just  considered, 
trotted  the  trial  around  the  turn  under  such  an  influence  of  a  previous 
shoeing.  While  the  subject  had  always  a  habit  of  carrying  off  hind 
forward  excessively,  the  shoeing  of  Fig.  99,  with  its  resulting  ex- 
tension of  Fig.  101,  shows  the  effect  of  the  change  from  Fig.  98, 
which  latter  was  entirely  faulty  and  caused  the  bad  way  of  going 
behind,  as  given  in  Fig.  100. 

With  somewhat  reversed  extensions  of  hind  feet  in  trials  follow- 
ing Fig.  99  and  Fig.  96  as  given  in  Figs.  97  and  101,  it  was  found  that 
the  turns  were  not  so  well  taken.  Hopping,  tip-toeing  and  breaks  were 
more  frequent  when  going  at  a  2.30  clip,  or  better.  The  shoeing  of 
Fig.  96  immediately  preceded  that  of  Fig.  95.  The  shoes  of  the  former 
were  worn  from  July  5th  to  July  I9th,  and  the  shoes  of  the  latter  from 
July  1 9th  to  August  9th. 

By  the  shortening  of  the  heels  of  the  off  hind  the  supposed  check 
to  extension  is  in  a  degree  removed  and  we  find  the  turn  taken  better 
in  part  on  that  account.  But  again,  the  shortening  of  both  hind  by  % 
inch  showed  a  greater  separation  of  fore  and  hind  extremities  by  over 
5  inches,  which  in  itself  means  a  greater  backward  extension. 

Of  course,  the  change  in  direction  of  fore  by  the  different  tilting 
of  bars  has  also  something  to  do  with  the  more  even  and  better  gait. 
But  the  fact  remains  that  off  hind  again  assumed  the  greater  extension 
of  hind  feet,  and  this  with  the  fact  that  near  fore,  in  consequence,  pre- 
ceded slightly  the  off  fore  gave  us  the  requirement  of  the  preferable 
extensions  at  the  turn.  In  other  words,  the  animal  indicated  that  this 
was  the  easiest  way  to  take  the  turns  and  did  it  with  an  even  movement 
of  legs. 

Elsewhere  we  saw  that  the  various  strides  of  each  leg  differ  in 
distances,  although  all  the  strides  of  the  four  legs  must  have  a  standard 
or  average  length  for  that  particular  way  of  going.  The  differences 
from  the  averages  are  the  variations  and  as  they  fall  short  or  exceed 
the  average  they  are  either  minus  or  plus  with  reference  to  that  general 
average.  The  total  difference  between  the  extreme  points  of  such 
variations  may  therefore  be  considered  as  indicative  of  the  regularity 


140  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

of  the  gait.    The  smaller  these  variations  the  more  regular  the  animal 
is  going.    It  may  be  illustrated  as  follows : 

FIG.  105 

Vanahons  from   average   Sfr/cf^ 
B  A  +  C 

| *»         I I 

—    /.J-7-  -t-   /  67 

/l=  locahon  of  average,  str/c/e. 
B  A  -  sum  to  fa/  of  vctnahbns  be/ow  average 
A  C  =Sufn  Mai  of  variations  above  average 
hence  BC=-  total  variations  of  s  fade  »    J.  01 

For  Fig.  96  we  find  the  calculation  of  such  total  variations  as 
follows : 

On  Straight  Course. 

nf  of  nh  oh 

(—1.34  +  1.67)   (—2.71  +  1.89)   (—1.48  +  1.91)   (—248  +  2.81) 
Total     3.01  4.60  3.39  5.29 

(average  stride  =  16.11  ft.) 

Under  shoeing  of  Fig.  95  we  have  the  calculations  for  variations 
as  follows: 

At  Turn. 

nf  of  nh  oh 

(—1-79  +  1-74)   (—1-69  +  1.74)   (—1-97  +  2.07)   (—2.04  +  1.99); 
Total     3.53  3.43  4.04  4.03 

(average  stride  =  15.27  ft.) 
and  for  the  stretch  following  the  turn : 

nf  of  nh  oh 

(—1.32  +  1.27)   (—1.19  +  1-29)   (—1.38  +  1.33)   (—142  +  1.22) 
Total     2.59  2.48  2.71  2.64 

(average  Stride  =  15.84) 
The  figures  given  are  in  feet  and  decimals  thereof. 

Comparing  the  total  variations  here  given  we  can  readily  see  that 
the  trial  on  stretch  following  the  turn  shows  a  more  even  gait  and  such 
was  the  case.  In  both  of  the  last  two  instances  there  is  a  greater  va- 
riation in  hind  than  in  fore,  and  as  a  whole  the  variations  are  naturally 
greater  at  the  turn  than  on  the  stretch  following  it.  The  last  figures, 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  141 

the  result  of  the  same  conditions  of  ground  surface,  that  is,  a  smooth 
straight  piece  of  ground  slightly  downhill,  therefore,  indicate  a  marked 
improvement  in  action  and  extension.  We  see,  again,  that  such  total 
variations  have  another  meaning,  namely,  that  of  greater  or  lesser  ac- 
tivity of  each  leg.  For  instance,  it  was  found  that  the  greater  variations 
in  fore  legs  belong  to  the  leg  that  precedes  its  mate,  and  the  greater  va- 
riations of  hind  legs  belong  to  the  leg  that  lags  or  follows  its  mate 
(see  Figs.  97  and  94).  We  shall  recur  to  this  peculiar  indication  of  ac- 
tivity later  on.  Incidentally  it  may  be  remarked  right  here  that  as  a 
rule  greater  weight  in  shoe  has  a  tendency  to  fold  the  fore  leg  more 
and  hence  shorten  its  extension  and  that  with  hind  feet  the  opposite  is 
true,  namely,  the  increase  of  weight  will  increase  extension  and  pre- 
vent high  action  of  the  foot  so  shod.  This  applies  more  particu- 
larly to  one  fore  or  one  hind  with  .reference  to  their  respective  op- 
posite mates.  Of  course,  it  is  also  to  be  understood  that  the  shape  of 
shoes  and  other  conditions  are  alike.  This  different  influence  of  weight 
on  fore  and  hind  has  its  cause  in  the  folding  of  the  knee  and  hock 
joints  and  in  the  general  attachment  of  legs  to  the  body.  The  fore 
are  more  or  less  rigidly  fixed  while  the  hind,  though  lacking  in  folding, 
are  more  loosely  hung  from  body.  A  study  of  the  trajectories  or 
curves  of  motion  in  the  earlier  part  of  this  book  will  indicate  the  effect 
of  weight  on  fore  and  hind ;  and  further  proof  of  this  matter  will  be 
offered  later  on. 

The  effect  of  such  a  heavier  left  hind  shoe  on  the  animal  in  ques- 
tion was,  therefore,  very  beneficial  to  the  gait,  even  though  it  did  not 
quite  eliminate  her  habit  of  reaching  forward  with  right  hind.  In 
fact,  because  she  did  so  was  evidence  that  the  turn  required  such  a 
way  of  locomotion.  It  should  not  be  forgotten,  however,  that  the 
minute  such  uneven  extension  becomes  excessive  the  benefit  is  lost  and 
danger  from  interference  arises. 

III.— TOE-WEIGHTS. 

Before  investigating  this  and  other  cases  any  further  it  will  be 
necessary  to  say  a  few  words  about  Toe-W eights. 


142 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


The  difficulty  that  many  horses  have  to  get  around  the  turn  going 
in  the  ordinary  way  —  with  the  infield  to  the  left  —  is  sometimes  removed 
when  the  turn  is  taken  in  the  reverse  way.  It  only  strengthens  my 
contention  for  the  exact  information  regarding  unequal  extensions  by 
means  of  measurements.  It  also  led  me  to  experiment  with  toe-weights 
on  both  fore  and  on  one  fore  only.  Toe-weights  have  a  very  steadying 
effect  on  the  action,  but  also  often  produce  too  much  folding  of  fore 
and  a  resultant  deficient  action  of  hind.  Their  use  has  been  overvalued  ; 
but  as  a  means  to  ascertain  deficient  extension  they  have  their  place. 
The  accidental  loss  of  a  shoe  has  often  determined  such  deficiency  and 


Fl  6.106 


Zoz.W 


a/so  3oz  weight 


full 


flush 


Swe/leal  heels 


Straight-  web 


brought  about  a  great  improvement  of  gait.  Likewise  the  use  of  one 
toe  weight  only  has  solved  the  question  of  squaring  the  animal's  gait. 
But  in  all  these  cases  unequal  weights  are  indicators  of  balance  and 
point  to  a  remedy  in  foot  and  shoe  rather  than  to  the  permanent  use  of 
toe-weights.  A  harmonious  action  between  fore  and  hind,  or  an 
action  where  the  difference  is  not  excessive,  should  be  the  aim  of 
proper  training.  As  to  a  greater  extension  of  fore  being  due  to  toe- 
weights  there  is  evidence  to  that  effect  in  a  trial  with  the  same  subject 
heretofore  considered.  The  shoeing  given  in  Fig.  106  shows  a  2  oz. 
weight  on  each  fore.  It  is  similar  to  that  of  Fig.  99,  except  that  the 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


fore  have  a  bar  only  across  toe  (also  tilted  to  left)  and  the  quarters 
near  the  heels  swelled  in  the  web  of  the  shoe  so  as  to  form  the  same 
contact  with  ground  as  with  the  double  bars.  The  hind  shoes  are  set  a 
little  differently,  the  near  being  full,  and  the  off  flush  at  the  toe.  A 
week  before  that  the  subject  was  tried  with  the  same  shoes,  but  without 
toe-weights.  The  extensions  and  separations  of  fore  and  hind  are  given 
in  Fig.  107.  Always  allowing  for  the  increase  of  separation  due  to  the 
increase  of  stride  and  speed  of  the  second  trial,  there  is  here  a  greater 


Extension* 


Extensions 
with  weights 


Extensions  of  fig,  106 


1 16  in 


F/&.I07 


3.94ft 

-nh  »    3.78ft- 
//.  bet  pairs  =•     •  16  Ft 

or  1.92,'n 

Average  disi- *        3.86ft. 
Stride,   «          16.1  2  ft 


.Win. 


+  2  02 


LSBin. 


F/OJ08: 


f.8m. 


Dish  nf -oh*  +.2.3  ft. 
Dist.  of-nh  =  4.22/>  . 
Viff  bet.  pairs  ^  .01  ft 

or./ 2  in  \ 

Average  ctisf.  =  +.26  fr. 
Stride.  -  /  833  ft 


Disr.nf-oh  =  3.95 ft-. 
Disr.  of-nh  =  3.67  fr. 
Diff.  ber.  pairs  =  .  28  fr . 

or  3. 36 in. 

Average  olisr.  -  J.80/>. 
Stride.  ~  17.32  ft. 


separation  of  fore  and  hind  by  0.4  feet  or  4.8  inches  (4.26 — 3.86)  a 
part  of  which,  at  least,  seems  to  be  due  to  the  toe-weights. 

Taking  this  same  case  and  replacing  a  3  oz.  toe-weight  on  off  or 
right  fore  for  the  2  oz.,  there  appears  a  different  extension,  as  given  in 
Fig.  108;  namely,  the  left  fore  increases  its  extension  to  about  1.56 
inches  and  the  left  hind  leg  now  shows  an  increased  extension  over 
that  of  the  right  hind  leg  by  1.8  inches.  This  sudden  reversal  of  ex- 
tension behind,  from  right  to  left  hind,  is  due  to  the  effect  produced 
by  the  heavier  toe-weight  on  right  fore. 


144  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

These  complications  may  appear  to  the  reader  as  rather  perplexing 
and  confusing,  but  the  reasoning  has  been  borne  out  by  the  results  in 
other  similar  experiments.  The  toe-weights  on  right  fore  by  its  greater 
weight — an  ounce  at  the  toe  equals  several  ounces  in  the  shoe — has 
caused  the  leg  thereby  to  fold  more.  That  is  to  say,  the  action  of 
right  fore  is  increased,  and  such  increase  of  action  communicates 
itself  to  its  related  mate,  the  left  hind  leg.  This  leg  responds  by  a 
greater  extension;  but  the  result  is  altogether  bad,  because  both  greater 
extensions  are  on  the  near  or  left  side,  making  it  appear  as  if  the 
animal  had  pacing  inclinations,  which  was  not  true  in  this  case.  At 
any  rate,  such  extensions  on  one  side  invite  single  footing  and  ir- 
regularities of  gait. 

The  difference  in  separation  between  fore  and  hind  (average— 
3.80  ft.)  is  somewhat  less  than  in  Fig.  107  (average=4.26  ft.),  where 
both  fore  had  2  oz.  toe-weights.  This  is  in  part  due  to  the  lesser 
speed  as  indicated  by  the  shorter  stride  (17.32  ft.),  as  compared  with 
the  18.53  ft-» tne  stride  of  Fig.  107.  But  since  all  deductions  from  such 
experiments  for  the  sake  of  comparison  should  be  based  on  the  same 
conditions,  it  may  be  well  to  mention  that  the  trial  of  Fig.  108  was 
trotted  on  the  outside  of  that  of  Fig.  107  and  on  harder  and  smoother 
ground,  the  surface  of  Fig.  107  being  somewhat  looser.  As  a  rule, 
all  my  experiments  were  made  under  similar  conditions  of  ground, 
which  was  generally  cross-raked  by  hand  to  a  fair  looseness  such  as 
exists  on  a  well  prepared  track. 

The  subject  which  we  have  been  considering  was  a  mare  with 
much  knee  action  and  a  hind  extension  that  interfered  with  the  fore, 
causing  forging  and  scalping.  Besides  that  she  paddled  with  the 
right  fore.  She  has  a  record  of  2.24^,  but  has  trotted  much  faster. 

Several  more  trials  were  made  with  toe-weights  on  either  fore  to 
ascertain  their  effect  and  the  shoeing  of  three  weeks  later,  as  .given 
in  Fig.  109,  was  the  basis  to  work  on.  The  principal-  feature  of  this 
shoeing  is  the  lighter  and  equal  weight  of  hind  shoes  and  the  longer 
inside  heel  of  shoe  on  left  hind  to  counteract  a  longer  outside  heel  in 
hoof  as  given. 

The  reader  may  ask  here,  as  well  as  in  previous  cases,  Why  this 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


difference  in  angles  and  weights  in  all  these  shoeings?  It  should, 
however,  be  remembered  that  these  shoeings  were  taken  out  of  a  long 
series,  the  purpose  of  which  was  the  establishment,  if  possible,  of 
certain  general  principles ;  but  to  satisfy  the  queries  that  may  arise 
in  the  mind  of  the  reader  who  is  anxious  for  practical  results  I  will 
indicate  a  few  reasons.  These  do  not,  and  cannot  at  this  stage,  con- 
stitute such  generalizations  as  arise  from  many  cases  tried  under 
similar  conditions.  Gradually  certain  facts  were  sifted  out  from  the 

Extensions  offig.109 

c 

Ft  0.109 


full 


pared. 


flush 


he  eh 
sne/kal 


straighf  wet) 


.12  in 


DM.nf-oh-  4.40ft 
Dist.of  -nh  -  +.32  ft. 
Diff.  det.  pairs  .08  ft 

or.$6/'n. 
Average  dist   «  +.36  ft. 

Sfn'c/e.    -     J8.Z4-ft 


various  changes  and  these  will  become  apparent  later  on.  For  the  pres- 
ent the  reasons  for  such  shoeings  will  be  given  as  they  appear  to  be 
warranted  by  the  object  in  view,  namely,  the  correction  of  faulty  gaits. 
Only  by  numerous  changes  can  such  experiments  yield  the  desired 
information  for  practical  purposes. 

In  Fig.  in  there  appears  again  a  heavier  shoe  for  the  right  fore. 
It  was  done  in  order  to  counteract  that  paddling  foot,  to  give  it  a 
better  direction.  The  lower  angle  has  in  view  a  better  extension. 
Behind  there  appears  a  heavier  shoe  on  the  left  foot  so  that  the  ex- 


146 


Gait  of  t lie  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


tension  may  be  increased.  Weight  always  increases  action,  more  so 
in  front  than  behind ;  but  whether  that  increase  of  action  will  be  in 
elevation  only  or  also  in  extension  depends  to  some  extent  on  the 
shape  of  the  shoe.  It  is  similar  with  the  different  lengths  of  toe  or 
foot.  Other  things  being  equal,  the  longer  leg  in  front  (^  or  *4  inch) 
acts  as  a  stilt  for  its  opposite  mate,  lifting  the  latter  and  giving  it  easier 
extension.  It  is  in  the  nature  of  the  more  rigidly  fixed  front  legs.  But 
again,  other  conditions  being  equal,  the  longer  foot  behind  (y$  or  % 
inch),  will  be  greater  in  extension  than  its  opposite  mate.  It  is  reason- 


F/O./ll 


Extensions  of  fig.  Ill 

LZStn 


flush 


in.  foe 
53°(S2°J 


3  3/8in.  toe 
S30 


.I6in 


pared 


FieJ-12 


web  on  bo  Hi 
oh  heels  /+ in.  longer 


D/st  nf-oh  =  +.18 ft. 


D/sf.  of-nh  =  +. 09  fr. 
£iff.  bel. pairs  -    .09  ft . 

or  I.OB  in 
Average  dish.  ^=     +./3ff. 

/5.88ft. 


able  to  suppose  so  even  at  this  stage  of  our  observations  because  of  the 
different  and  looser  articulation  of  hind  legs. 

Later  on  this  will  become  more  apparent.  At  any  rate,  the  shoeing 
of  Fig.  in  was  based  on  the  erroneous  presumption  that  simply  longer 
heels  in  one  hind  shoe  will  cause  it  to  point  back,  or,  in  other  words, 
will  check  its  extension.  The  main  point  here  raised  was  whether  the 
right  hind  foot  with  its  greater  length  over  that  of  left  hind  foot  would 
tend  toward  a  greater  extension  and  therefore  toward  an  easier  taking 
of  the  turns,  the  supposition  being  that  the  greater  sweep  of  the  right 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  147 

hind  necessary  at  the  turns  could  thus  be  accomplished,  as  well  as  by  a 
slight  lean  to  the  left  side,  which  would  naturally  be  effected  more 
easily  by  this  slight  increase  in  length  of  outside  leg  or  foot.  All  in 
all,  however,  this  adjustment  of  the  hind  shoes  effected  an  equalization 
of  hind  extension;  for,  the  near  with  its  heavier  shoe  and  shorter  toe 
may  be  considered  to  offset  the  off  with  its  lighter  shoe  and  longer 
toe  plus  its  longer  heels,  so  that  the  effect  of  the  last  two  conditions— 
longer  toe  and  longer  heel — was  somewhat  modified  by  the  counter- 
action of  the  near  hind.  Subsequent  investigations  will  make  this  more 
clear. 

It  will  also  be  noticed  that  the  toes  of  fore  are  longer  in  Fig.  1 1 1 
than  they  were  at  previous  trial  of  Fig.  109.  This  was  due  to  the  fact 
that  hind  shoes  only  were  new,  the  front  shoes  remaining  on,  showing 
as  usual  the  continual  growth  of  foot,  a  fact  against  which  David  Ro- 
berge  warns  by  saying,  "the  growing  foot  is  a  growing  evil."  But 
sometimes  a  little  increase  in  length  of  toe  enables  the  animal  to  move 
better  and  faster.  The  trial  proved  satisfactory  and  a  subsequent  mile 
in  2 127  in  a  vigorous,  smooth  fashion  was  a  pretty  fair  result. 

At  this  trial  the  stride  averaged  15.88  feet  and  the  variations 
for  each  leg  from  this  average  were  comparatively  smaller  or  of  lesser 
extent  than  at  the  trial  of  shoeing  given  under  Fig.  109,  where  the 
average  stride  was  18.24  feet.  The  greater  the  speed  and  the  longer 
the  stride  in  consequence,  the  less  are  the  variations  of  the  strides  of 
each  individual  leg;  but  the  faults  of  gait,  though  less  perceptible,  are 
still  there  under  cover  of  great  exertion.  The  intermediate  speed  is, 
therefore,  more  preferable,  not  only  for  detecting  faults,  but  also  for 
correcting  same.  Allowance  must,  however,  be  made  for  the  greater 
effectiveness  of  any  remedy  applied  and  tested  at  great  speed.  We 
must  try  to  administer  homeopathic  or  small  doses  only  for  extreme 
speed. 

In  order  to  further  see  the  effect  of  different  lengths  of  feet,  the 
shoeing  of  18  days  after  that  of  Fig.  in  is  shown  in  Fig.  113,  with 
position  of  feet  expressing  their  extensions  in  Fig.  114.  There  is  a 
decrease  in  extension  of  left  fore  due  to  forced  extension  of  right  fore 
by  means  of  a  shorter  foot  with  reference  to  left  fore.  Partly  in- 


148 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


fluenced  by  right  fore  and  by  the  two  ounces  more  in  weight  of  shoe 
the  left  hind  advances  slightly  in  extension,  making  a  greater  ex- 
tension by  a  fraction  of  an  inch ;  and  compared  with  previous  trial  it 
advances  over  the  right  hind  by  0.18  +  0.12  inch  or  0.3  inch.  All  such 
small  differences  are  negligible  and  are  only  given  as  actual  differences 
of  averages  of  20  strides.  No  matter  how  small,  they  are  nevertheless 
exact  indications  of  conditions. 


Ft  e.l  13 


FIG.  H4 

Extensions  oF  fig  .113 


.36  in 


9  I  ((  II 

3  3/din .-toes-   3'/+in. 


-flush  toes 


/leek  y+in.Jonc[er 


D&.nf-oh  «=  3.92  fh. 
Disr.of-nh  =  J.88S/-. 
~ 


Straight- 


or 

'Average  cti'st  *  3.90  />. 
Sfri'de   =          I5.59f-t: 


To  show  the  effect  of  the  swelled  outside  heel  of  the  left  hind  shoe 
the  comparative  lateral  extensions  and  angles  of  feet  with  reference 
to  the  median  line  are  given  in  Fig.  115. 

The  left  hind  by  means  of  this  outside  swelled  heel  is  forced  to  a 
greater  angle,  thus  showing  the  effect  of  the  shape  of  the  shoe,  besides 
indicating  a  greater  spread  of  hind  feet  by  about  Y^  inch  on  the  average 
of  16  strides.  It  will  also  be  noticed  that  the  fore  travel  on  practically 
the  same  line  in  both  trials.  In  the  first  trial  they  cross  over,  and  this 
is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  animal  carried  her  head  a  little  to  left  side, 
thus  giving  the  right  and  paddling  fore  a  chance  to  land  on  the 
inside  of  its  natural  line  of  motion. 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  149 

Though  side  poles  and  rods  are  unsightly  affairs  in  a  race  much 
may  be  effected  by  their  judicious  use  in  training  out  such  a  habit. 
No  horse  can  be  balanced  unless  going  straight.  Such  a  straight  di- 
rection may  be  brought  about  by  shoeing  in  time,  but  a  quicker  course 
is  to  use  a  side  rod  in  conjunction  with  such  investigations  as  these. 

This  carrying  of  head  to  near  side  always  had  the  effect  of  a  slight 
increase  of  near  hind  extension.  It  generally  happened  when  driven 
close  in  to  the  fence  and  an  allowance  has  to  be  made  for  that  in  the 
result.  Hence  the  shoeings  here  given  do  not  show  as  yet  conclusively 

FIG.  1 15 

fredu  ceoi  one.  half) 


nh  of      \nf  oh 

t t  t!  t 

*•  ^   rt  ,„./ 

W  s.r?     V*  • 

Directions  of  f/g.  Iff 

fore    yf   cross 

t 

nfr  nf\      of  oh 

t  ti  t  t 


\ 


D/rechons  of  fig.  /I3  . 
Xtotfed  lines  cure  med/an  lines 


the  principles  involved.  For  instance,  the  longer  foot  on  right  hind 
may  at  times  show  a  greater  extension  because  of  such  a  length  and 
also  because  of  such  a  tendency  of  that  leg  and  thus  offset  the  ex- 
tension of  left  hind  due  to  this  carrying  of  head  to  left.  All  these  ex- 
periments, therefore,  should  be  considered  in  that  way  and  they  were, 
in  fact,  but  steps  in  the  direction  of  equal  extensions. 

Elsewhere  it  has  been  emphasized  that  time  is  an  important  element 
of  balancing,  and  in  all  trials  for  such  investigations  it  has  been  in- 
variably found  that  when  they  follow  too  closely  upon  a  change  of 
shoeing  the  result  is  confusing  and  not  indicative  of  the  true  effect  of 


150  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


a  change.  An  instance  of  this  was  demonstrated  by  the  shoeing 
following  Fig.  109,  namely,  that  of  Fig.  in,  where,  within  four  days, 
a  trial  was  made  and  the  results  were  not  as  satisfactory  as  they  were 
ten  days  after  that. 

Let  us  now  return  to  the  effect  of  toe-weights.  The  apparently 
balanced  condition  of  Fig.  in,  w.hich  produced  a  good  and  smooth 
mile,  was  used  for  such  a  possible  demonstration  of  the  effect  on  either 
fore  foot. 

In  my  remarks  on  toe-weights  it  was  maintained  that  while  they 
caused  an  increased  action  or  folding  in  front,  they  were  apt  to  bring 
about  a  deficient  action  behind.  Many  trotters  loaded  down  with  toe- 
weights  in  front  show  a  low  action  but  apparently  increased  forward 
extension  behind.  Toe-weights,  therefore,  never  appealed  to  me  as 
being  instrumental  in  causing  a  better  equilibrium  of  fore  and  hind 
action,  so  pleasing  to  the  eye,  but  seemed  rather  to  aggravate  matters. 
The  high  elevation  and  somewhat  increased  extension  of  fofe  does  in- 
fluence the  activity  of  hind  legs,  but  there  seems  to  be  not,  as  we  should 
expect,  a  higher  elevation  of  action,  but  rather  an  increased  forward 
extension.  The  use  of  toe-weights,  therefore,  does  not  separate  fore 
and  hind,  but  seems  to  be  productive  of  closer  approach,  so  that  the 
claim  that  they  will  make  the  fore  feet  keep  clear  of  the  hind  by  greater 
separation  of  fore  and  hind  has  not  been  proved,  although  by  the 
greater  folding  of  fore  these  are  apt  to  be  out  of  reach  of  the  hind 
when  the  latter  reach  forward. 

For  the  good  name  of  the  trotter  —  as  being  something  better  and 
worthier  than  a  mere  racer  —  we  cannot  sacrifice  everything  to  speed 
alone.  We  must  have  splendid  action,  well  balanced  action,  evenly  dis- 
tributed action  ;  in  short,  action  of  the  vigorous  and  the  useful  kind 
combined.  Toe-weights  applied  continually  do  not  promote  such  action. 

With  the  shoeing  of  Fig.  in  and  the  subject  driven  on  outside  of 
the  first  trial,  which  was  without  toe-weights  and  near  the  fence,  it 
was  noticed  that  the  head  was  carried  straighter.  The  third  trial  on 
outside  of  second  wr*s  made  under  same  conditions.  The  extensions  of 
each  trial  with  toe-weight  on  alternate  fore  are  given  in  Fig.  116  and 
Fig.  117. 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


Here  we  have  a  recurrence  of  the  tendency  of  right  hind  to  ex- 
cessive extension,  due  no  doubt  to  the  application  of  the  toe-weight 
on  the  left  fore,  which  caused  the  latter's  increased  action,  and  by 
sympathy  with  the  right  hind,  also  the  greater  extension  of  both. 
Again,  the  averages  of  20  strides  and  relative  positions  of  feet  tell  of 
the  average  discrepancy  as  presented  in  Fig.  116.  In  all  the  diagrams 
of  extensions  the  scale  has  been  J^  inch  to  the  foot,  but  the  differences 


FlGr. 

Extensions  of  fig.  Ill . 
2  oz  foe  weight  on  n  f 


4.62,; 


.  117 

Extensions  of  fig.  ///  • 
2  oz.  foe  weight  on  of 


2.82'f 


Jk      X. 

Dist.of-  nh  =  *2tf// 
J)/St  nf-  oh  -  J^// 
2V//.  ^e/  Z?^/AS  -  .  Z*  /v4 
C?A  2.88  S/j 


1.62  in 
2oz.fw, 


or 

Average  drsf 
Str/cte.  = 


D/st-.of-nh  -  4.10  ff-. 
Dist-.nf-oh*  ±-^  rr. 
2/ff.  bet. pairs  =  .  to  f/-. 
or  f-2  /n 
Average  cJist  =  +.05  ft. 
.&riott  -  16. 34 ft. 


of  extensions  are  conventionally  excessive  or  in  disregard  to  that  scale 
in  order  to  make  them  more  palpable  and  visible  to  the  eye. 

No.w,  turning  to  Fig.  117,  we  see  a  change  of  extension,  or  rather 
a  diminution  of  the  former  extensions  caused  by  the  toe-weight  on 
the  off  fore.  There  is  a  slight  increase  in  length  of  stride,  amounting 
to  about  2^4  inches,  and  that  in  itself  may  account  for  the  slight  de- 
crease of  the  average  distance  between  the  pairs  of  legs,  from  4.08 
feet  to  4.05  feet.  But  what  is  more  remarkable  is  the  greater  approach 
of  equality  between  the  two  distances.  I  have  always  held  it  to  be  of 


152  Gait  of  I  he  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

importance  that  such  distances  should  be  as  near  alike  as  possible  in 
order  'to  have  a  square  trot  and  an  even  action.  Whatever  unequal 
extensions  there  are,  they  should  be  found  in  both  fore  and  hind  feet 
and  should  be  of  equal  or  nearly  equal  magnitude.  Such  an  approach 
to  equality  is  found  in  the  application  of  the  toe-weight  to  the  right  fore. 
The  left  hind  responded  to  the  greater  activity  of  the  right  fore.  Both 
the  left  fore  and  the  right  hind  receded  in  their  previous  extensions  and 
by  comparison  the  two  cases  exemplify  the  effect  of  a  toe-weight  not 
only  on  the  foot  bearing  it,  but  also  on  its  correlated  hind  mate.  The 
excess  of  extension  of  left  fore  drops  only  from  1.74  inches  to  1.62 
inches,  or  0.12  inch,  but  that  of  the  right  hind  decreases  from  4.62 
inches  to  2.82  inches,  or  1.8  inch,  making  a  total  approach  of  n  f — o  h 
of  1.68  inch  (2.88—1.20). 

Toe-weights,  therefore,  have  their  uses,  especially  as  auxiliaries 
to  establish  evidence  of  excessive  and  wrong  extensions  by  applying 
them  singly  to  either  fore  foot.  I  would  recommend  such  a  test  as  a 
rough  and  quick,  though  an  indefinite,  short-cut  to  balance.  As  men- 
tioned before,  a  shoe  accidentally  lost  in  a  try-out  has  often  served 
the  same  purpose  to  the  thoughtful  trainer,  and  a  cast  shoe  with  better 
gait  and  speed  in  consequence  is  a  hint  with  a  vengeance  to  any  ob- 
server. It  should  certainly  call  forth  the  simple  little  question.  "Why  ?" 
upon  whose  repetition  so  much  enlightenment  rests.  We  are  sur- 
rounded by  many  mysteries,  but  this  little  question  has  a  right  to 
knock  at  the  door  of  every  one  of  them,  and  no  human  tradition,  or 
prejudice  or  authority,  shall  forbid  it  to  do  so,  for  upon  that  right  all 
true  progress  depends. 

Just  as  a  cast  shoe  may  reveal  an  inequality  of  length  in  foot  or 
leg,  so  a  toe-weight  applied  to  one  fore  foot  may  point  out  a  deficiency 
of  extension ;  but  whatever  the  supposition,  do  not  let  us  speak  of  a 
horse  striding  shorter  with  one  leg  than  with  the  others.  A  horse 
would  not  trot  or  pace  if  he  did  that  continuously. 

Let  us  again  consider  the  effects  of  toe-weights  and  examine  other 
cases. 

Let  us  take  the  case  of  a  mare  with  a  vicious  direction  of  near 
fore,  as  given  in  Fig.  118.  The  near  fore  fooc  crosses  over  the  me- 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


153 


dian  line  and  toes  in  7°.  Her  gait  was  unsteady  in  front ;  she  tried  to 
recover  her  deficient  forward  extensions  with  one  or  the  other  fore 
leg.  It  was  only  a  case  of  brief  consultation,  and,  therefore,  unsat- 

FIGJIS 

'Xiirech'ons  of  feet 
(reduced  one  har/r  J 

r  s  i    .  r  *  .  f  -  L 


V 

n  i 

t 

U  1 

\ 

c/// 

T 

\        / 

\S.66° 

/.- 

.t 

isfactory  for  any  definite  improvement.  She  was  shod  about  as  given 
in  Fig.  119,  and  in  Fig.  120  are  seen  her  extensions.  For  the  exactness 
of  angles  of  feet  or  length  of  toes,  I  could  not  warrant,  because  there 

r/o.  120 

Extensions  of  fig.  11$. 


FIG.  //S 


so* 


i  =Z7  D/st  nf-oh~  ^3.98  ft. 

foes  about-  3/2  /n,  DtiF  of-  ?ih  -  J.J/  //. 

&iff.  be/:  jbairs  =    .*7  //. 

or    5.54-m 

Average  cttst;  =     3.72 
Stride,  —  Mr  88ft. 

out-side  he.efs   <S//de, 
J  To  4-  inches 

was  not  another  chance  to  try  her.  She  was  a  very  fair  type  of  trotter, 
standing  perhaps  a  little  close  together  with  fore  and  a  little  far  apart 
with  hind,  and  also  standing  slightly  under  in  front  but  fairly  straight 


154  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

behind  when  looked  at  from  the  side.  She  was  rapid  gaited  and  had 
little  knee  action.  Besides,  she  was  unsteady  behind  and  the  outside 
turned  heels  of  hind  shoes  slid  on  ground  from  3  to  4  inches.  Any 
such  concussion  cannot  possibly  benefit  the  gait  or  balance.  I  recom- 
mended the  use  of  a  2  oz.  toe-weight  on  near  -fore  only  as  a  test,  and 
the  removal  of  turned  heels  behind.  While  she  had  shown  a  mile  in 
2  :22  with  much  effort,  she  went  a  smooth  and  easy  mile  in  2:18^,  her 
fastest  time  then. 

When  examining  the  extensions  in  Fig.  120  we  should  remember 
also  that  off  fore  was  more  or  less  held  back  by  interference  with  the 
near  fore.  For,  as  could  be  expected,  by  its  being  placed  towards  the 
off  fore,  the  near  fore  was  now  and  then  struck  at  the  knee  by  the  off 
fore ;  and  this  interference  held  back  or  checked  the  extension  of  the 
off  fore.  The  toe-weight  remedied  this  somewhat.  It  steadied  the 
near  fore,  gave  it  a  somewhat  better  direction  and  possibly  better  ex- 
tension, and  by  such  increased  activity  it  also  influenced  its  diagonal 
mate,  the  off  hind ;  so  that,  all  in  all,  the  effect  of  that  toe-weight  was 
the  same  as  in  the  previous  case.  I  regret  that  the  result  so  obtained 
by  advice  could  not  be  brought  down  on  paper  as  the  other  cases,  but 
the  evidence  remains  that  a  2  oz.  toe-weight  so  applied  and  under  such 
conditions  improved  both  gait  and  speed.  Included  in  the  advice  given 
was  the  usual  and  always  effective  rule  of  pointing  advocated  by  the 
late  David  Roberge,  to  the  effect  that  the  near  fore  was  lowered  on  in- 
side toe  and  the  "wing"  of  that  hoof  reduced  at  that  point.  The  re- 
sult was  that  she  quit  banging  her  left  knee. 

Two  more  of  these  fleeting  cases  came  to  my  attention,  where  toe- 
weights  showed  the  same  general  effect.  In  both  cases  the  attitude  of 
the  animal  was  very  faulty  because  the  front  and  the  hind  legs  stood 
under ;  that  is,  there  was  a  pointing  back  of  fore  and  a  pointing  for- 
ward of  hind  feet.  Such  an  attitude  always  causes  trouble  and  dis- 
appointment from  the  fact  that  interference  is  almost  impossible  to 
overcome.  The  animal  may  have  ever  so  much  speed  and  ambition  or 
trotting  instinct,  but  Nature  having  put  up  a  poor  structure  for  speed 
balks  all  efforts.  We  can,  however,  modify  even  such  an  attitude  in 
time  so  that  the  animal  can  at  least  trot  well  enough  to  get  into  the 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


155 


list  of  2:30  performers.  Subjects  so  constituted  are  very  refractory 
to  treatment  and  the  problem  of  separating  the  extremities  is  a  diffi- 
cult, though  not  impossible  job.  Without  time  there  is  no  remedy  for 
these  at  all,  for  horses  of  such  an  attitude  have  naturally  a  slovenly 
way  of  poking  their  hind  feet  straight  under  without  any  effort  at  ele- 
vation. They  are  inclined  to  single-foot  when  there  is  effected  a  marked 
change  in  the  shoeing  of  hind  feet. 

In  these  cases  I  lack  the  evidence  of  consecutive  shoeing  and  there- 
fore cannot  offer  quite  as  conclusive  a  proof  of  the  effect  of  the  toe- 
weights  used,  and  I  must  ask  the  reader's  kind  indulgence  in  the 
matter. 

FIG.  122 

£x/e/i5/ons  of  fig.  121 


*  oz .  toe  weights  on  fore 
4m. 
toes 


F/6./2/ 


S5*  with  shoes 


D/ff.  bet  pairs  =     .  12  //. 
Ofi/.+tfft. 

Average  disf.  =     3.65  f f 
Sfriafz     =  - 


oufs/c/e  hec/oF  oh  longer. 


In  Fig.  I2i  we  have  the  shoeing  of  one  case,  a  mare,  by  Stein- 
way,  of  which  angles  were  measured  with  shoes  on  hoof.  Both  fore 
carry  2  oz.  toe-weights  and  bars  across  heels.  The  web  of  the  shoes 
was  wider  at  toe  than  at  quarters,  being  heavier  at  toe  in  consequence. 
With  this  double  weighting  of  toe  the  heel  impressions  of  fore  feet 
were  hardly  visible  on  ground.  The  hind  feet  were  very  steep  in  angle, 
besides  being  checked  in  extension  by  long  outside  heels  and  calks. 


156 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


The  whole  method  was  meant  to  force  the  separation  of  fore  and  hind 
extremities.  This  was  done  at  the  expense  of  the  length  of  stride, 
which  is  here  but  14.95  ^eet-  The  gait  was  rapid  but  stubby.  She  used 
to  have  a  longer  and  more  sweeping  stride  when  allowed  to  get  under 
herself  with  hind  feet;  but  during  this  shoeing  she  improved  with  toe- 
weight  on  near  fore  only.  She  took  the  turns  better,  the  first  quarter 
in  35  seconds  and  a  mile  in  2:21,  her  best  mile  then.  This  toe-weight 
increased  the  activity  of  off  hind,  counteracting  the  longer  heel,  which 
was  meant  to  give  it  better  direction  and  to  check  its  extension.  The 
toe-weights  on  both  fore  distributed  their  influence  on  both  hind  and  at 
the  turns  the  off  hind  did  probably  not  extend  enough  to  effect  proper 

FIG.  123 

FIG./2+ 

Extensions  of  fry.  /23 


•*•  3  oz  .  fee  we/a/)/-  on  near 


rolled  a  Hot, 


3.90in 


J)/sf.  of-nh  -  /.37  -ff-. 

J)/s/-  nf  -oh   =  /.92  //. 

J)iff  bet.  pairs  =  .05  //• 

or.  6  in. 

Average  ctisf.     =  f.95  ft. 

Stride       — 


heel  caUs  -ouf side  longer 

propulsion.  When  near  fore  only  was  weighted  a  better  extension 
of  off  hind  was  effected  by  the  greater  action  of  near  fore.  This  led 
me  to  have  her  shod,  as  given  in  Fig.  123,  the  shoeing  being  almost 
identical  with  Fig.  121.  The  hind  shoes  were  i  oz.  heavier  each  and 
the  heels  were  made  alike  on  outside  of  both  shoes.  Besides,  to  over- 
come the  rapidity  of  stride  the  angles  of  hind  were  let  down  about  one 
degree.  In  the  former  shoeing  the  angle  was  taken  with  the  shoes  on, 
but  hind  calks  had  somewhat  worn,  so  that  between  that  measurement 
and  this  one  on  hoof  directly  made  a. difference  of  about  one  degree  less 
for  last  shoeing. 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  157 

Tried  this  way  the  result  is  curious.  My  notes  say  that  "she  now 
shows  good  knee  action,  but  no  hock  action  at  all."  Evidently  the  hind 
legs  again  extended  under  too  much.  Fig.  124  made  on  the  same  scale 
as  Fig.  122  will  show  by  comparison  with  latter  this  lack  of  separation 
between  fore  and  hind  extremities.  There  is,  in  fact,  a  decrease  in  the 
difference  of  extension  between  fore  (from  3.84  inches  to  3.3  inches), 
but  behind  the  difference  has  increased  considerably  ( from  2.4  inches  to 
3.9  inches).  It  is  the  off  hind  that  advances  over  the  near  hind.  The 
average  distance  between  the  extremities  is  but  1.95  feet  against  3.65 
feet  at  previous  trial.  It  is  true  that  stride  has  almost  increased  2  feet 
(from  14.95  to  16.86  feet),  but  this  in  itself  should  rather  cause  greater 
separation.  There  is  also  the  beveled  toe  of  fore  to  consider  as  in- 
creasing the  knee  action  and  decreasing  somewhat  the  extension  of  fore. 
The  old  habit  of  going  under  herself  behind  was,  therefore,  again 
brought  out  and  this  double  approach  of  extremities  caused  the  abnor- 
mally small  distance  between  them  (1.95  feet).  Amid  these  many  con- 
ditions, however,  there  appears  again  the  effect  of  the  toe-weight  on 
the  activity  of  the  hind  leg  correlated  with  the  fore  checked  by  such  a 
weight.  The  slight  changes  here  undertaken  showed  a  remarkable  dif- 
ference in  the  mode  of  propulsion.  It  only  goes  to  prove  that  we 
never  know  the  actual  conditions  of  a  horse's  gait  until  it  is  plotted 
down  in  such  a  manner.  Again,  the  reader  is  advised  not  to  take  this 
as  conclusive  evidence  of  other  matter  than  the  question  of  toe-weights, 
which  seem  to  have  shown  their  effect  in  the  above  cases. 

The  second  case,  and  last  one  in  this  series,  was  that  of  a  trotting 
bred  gelding  by  Direct,  which  had  been  used  under  saddle  and  was 
a  compact,  handsome  animal.  His  gait  was,  like  the  previous  one,  more 
or  less  the  result  of  a  continued  application  of  toe-weights,  long  toes 
and  low  angles.  Such  combination  of  unfortunate  circumstances,  for 
which  man  is  always  responsible,  are  not  matters  of  a  few  shoeings 
for  correction.  One  year  would  be  about  the  time  necessary  to  effect 
any  change  without  loss  of  speed. 

This  gelding  was  shod  as  in  Fig.  125,  with  resultant  extensions 
lengthwise  and  lateral  as  given-  in  Fig.  126  and  127.  With  the  toe- 
weights  his  manner  of  going  was  fairly  good  except  that  he  went  under 


158  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

too  much  behind.  The  test  with  the  median  line  and  angles  with  same 
brought  out  a  direction  of  feet  that  was  probably  acquired  when  under 
saddle.  Fig.  127  presents  a  peculiar  bunching  of  three  lines  of  di- 
rection with  the  near  hind  away  by  itself.  It  was  an  extremely  faulty 
position  and  one  calculated  to  give  trouble.  In  consequence  the  angles 
of  feet  as  placed  upon  the  ground  were  greater  on  the  off  side  than  on 


F/G.125 

Extensions 


66  in. 


/.98,'n 


Ouhiole  hee-ls   3/+ 
/onger  and '  furrtea 


2/sr.of-nh  -  2.71 'ft. 

& 

2.60ft. 


JD/sr.  nf-oh  ~   2. +3  ft. 
J>/ff  be f. pairs  -      .22 ; 


or 


Stride 


770.  127 

L  at  era  /  extension  s  anc/crnq/e 


f" 

f  £ 

f 

\5.f° 

^      A 

7fV       4>J.\ 

4 

the  near  side.  Suspicion  of  inclination  to  single-footing  showed  up  in 
the  greater  extensions  of  both  right  fore  and  right  hind.  In  the  pure 
trot  this  habit  rarely  appears  and  if  it  does  it  predicts  pacing  tendencies, 
either  natural  or  due  to  shoeing.  The  low  angle  behind  (47°)  fa- 
vored a  forward  extension,  so  that  the  average  distance  between  ex- 
tremities (2.60  feet)  was  out  of  proportion  to  the  average  stride  of 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  159 

15.53  feet;  even  though  the  horse  stood  under  at  both  ends  more  than 
he  should.    His  gait  and  action  were  rather  rapid  and  not  high. 

In  the  variations  from  the  average  stride — that  is,  the  difference  of 
individual  strides  over  and  below  the  average — the  fore  showed  23  per 
cent,  more  unsteadiness  than  the  hind.  This  proves  the  forced  and 
bad  effect  of  toe- weights  in  this  case,  quite  the  contrary  to  the  effect 
they  had  on  the  previous  case  of  the  mare,  where  the  variations  were 
small  and  fairly  evenly  divided  among  the  four  legs.  The  gelding's 
variations  were  as  follows : 

n  f  of  n  h  oh 

+4.11—6.83          +5-98—6.55          -f4>55—378         +4.99—3-09 

total  scope 

10.94  12.53  8.33  8.08 

It  is  evident  from  this  that  he  labored  with  fore,  as  was  actually 
the  fact.  Here  was,  therefore,  an  effect  of  toe-weights  that  was  un- 
desirable and  faulty.  Under  the  shoeing  of  Fig.  125  they  did  not 
benefit  him.  The  shoeing  was  the  trainer's  own  idea  and  the  trial  was 
made  under  conditions  as  found. 

Later  on,  when  the  trial  with  one  toe-weight  only  was  made  with 
the  mare,  this  gelding  should  have  had  the  single  weight  attached  to 
his  off  fore  instead  of  to  his  near  fore.  The  shoeing  was  then  changed 
somewhat,  as  can  be  seen  in  Fig.  128.  There  is  practically  no  change 
in  this  except  the  angles  of  hoofs,  particularly  of  hind  ones,  where  angle 
was  increased  to  52°.  The  object  of  this  was,  of  course,  to  check  the 
extension  of  the  hind  legs.  The  result  shows  such  an  effect,  namely, 
the  separation  instead  of  being  an  average  of  2.60  feet  is  now  2.85 
feet,  or  a  gain  of  0.25  foot  or  3  inches.  The  difference  between  the 
distances  of  the  two  pair  of  legs  is  also  less  (o.n),  just  one-half  of 
that  of  former  trial  (0.22). 

There  is  here  also  the  effect  of  the  toe-weight  in  the  greater  ex- 
tension of  near  fore  by  one  inch  over  that  of  previous  trial,  Fig.  126 
(0.66  +  0.36  =  1.02  inches)  ;  but  the  desired  effect  of  this  toe- 
weight  upon  the  off  hind  is  not  visible.  In  fact,  the  relative  positions 
of  hind  feet  is  the  opposite  to  what  it  was  in  Fig.  126.  Looking  at  the 
lateral  extensions  of  Fig.  130  we  find  them  all  less  than  in  Fig.  127, 


160  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


and  the  reader  will  notice  the  abnormal  large  angle  (n°)  of  off  hindr 
which  is  the  effect  of  the  shoe  employed.  The  intended  effect  of  such 
a  shoe,  namely,  that  of  carrying  the  leg  out,  was  not  attained.  We 
still  have  the  annoying  position  of  same  inwardly  of  off  fore,  with 
the  fault  of  excessive  pointing  out  with  toe  which  is  caused  by  shoe. 
This  means  that  the  foot  was  more  or  less  checked  in  extension  and 
dragged  along,  with  a  resultant  closing  up  of  entire  separation  be- 

F/G.123 

Extensions 


F I  O.I  28 


outside  heels  /£in- 
longer  -on  oursiac, 
foe.  heav/er  anal  wider. 


=-  290ft-. 


D//7   bet.  pairs  =".77  //. 

or  1.  32  in. 
Average  itt'tf.    =    2.85ft. 


Lot/era/  exi 


A 

reduced  ^2 

oh  nf  of 

nt 

\<>  27° 

FIG  130. 

"</j:  4 

tween  the  feet  crosswise.  Besides  this  we  have  a  peculiar  toeing 
in  of  the  foot  carrying  the  toeweight,  which  is  in  part  due  to  the 
direction  of  off  hind  foot.  Such  an  inward  direction  of  the  near 
fore,  or  rather  such  a  direction  to  the  opposite  side  of  its  normal 
direction,  makes  the  total  result  doubly  faulty.  These  directions  may 
be  entirely  due  to  faulty  paring  of  feet,  which  is  so  an  essential 
matter  in  pointing,  and  often  has  been  proved  so  in  other  experiments 
more  directly  under  my  control.  At  any  rate,  we  have  seen  the  effect 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  1 6 1 

of  the  weight  on  near  fore,  though  through  other  conditions  its  ef- 
fect on  hind  action  was  not  visible.  Loping  under  the  saddle  had 
probably  affected  this  gelding's  open  trotting  action  and  inherited 
pacing  tendencies  may  explain  the  extensions  of  two  feet  on  one  side 
(Fig.  126)  instead  of  on  the  opposite  side,  as  in  the  true  trotting 
action.  Even  with  this  faulty  gait  he  could  show  miles  in  about  2 125, 
the  near  fore  extension  favoring  an  easier  taking  of  turns. 

It  should  be  added  that  in  this  experiment  the  variations  of 
strides  from  the  average  were  far  more  regular  and  even  than  in 
the  previous  trial,  the  fore  being  but  slightly  more  irregular  than  the 
hind,  although  the  off  side  (right  fore  and  right  hind)  gave  about 
20  per  cent,  more  irregularity  than  the  near  side,  showing  again  that 
the  interrelation  of  legs  had  an  element  of  the  pacing  or  single-foot- 
ing habit,  either  inherited  or  acquired  by  the  saddle. 

A  few  more  experiments  would  have  shown  whether  his  gait 
could  be  improved  at  all  and  whether  he  was  really  worth  training 
or  could  only  be  a  good  saddle  horse  or  roadster.  Here  it  is  where 
the  deception  comes  in  and  horses  are  kept  in  training  that  are  not 
worth  the  money  spent  because  of  structural  or  acquired  faults 
almost  beyond  remedy.  They  are  speedy,  honest  and  level-headed, 
but  simply  cannot  strike  an  even,  regular  clip  to  accomplish  what  is 
asked  of  them.  One  thorough  insight  into  their  mode  of  .locomotion 
will  not  only  tell  us  of  the  impediments,  but  save  us  a  whole  lot  of 
trouble  and  the  energy  lost  in  continuing  the  training  by  hoping 
against  hope  and  trusting  to  luck. 

Let  us  take,  for  instance,  the  usual  refuge  to  toe-weights  when  the 
fore  feet  do  not  seem  to  "get  away"  or  extend.  There  was  a  horse 
"by  McKinney  which  I  was  supposed  to  immediately  benefit  and  cor- 
rect in  two  shoeings.  Fig.  131  will  give  the  reader  a  good  conception 
of  the  usual  overloading  of  fore  feet. 

This  animal  presents  one  of  the  many  cases  where  action  is 
naturally  rapid,  but  where  it  is  straight  up  and  down  rather  than 
extended.  As  illustrated  in  Figs.  20  and  21,  action  may  be  increased 
in  elevation  by  means  of  weight  —  in  this  instance  by  toe-weights  and 
hsavy  shoes  —  but  it  is  not  always  a  guarantee  for  increased  extension. 


1 62  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

With  a  horse  that  has  naturally  somewhat  of  a  forward  reach  with 

Fl  6.131 

F/G./32 

2oz. 


Section  : 


5)1    ^e 


52' 


ss 


Section  : 


Wt'/n 

SB* 
Extensions  : 


t.SGin. 


/s/.  nF-oh  =    3.58ft. 
2>M 


or  2.*-  //?. 


Section : 


S30 


Section  ' 


t)   of  O/>   thicker 

Ex/ens/ons  .- 


1.14-m 


Disf:nf-ofi=  3.35 'fF 

2>ist.  of-  nh  =  3.30ft. 

Diff                 =  -OSfJ- 

or,  6  m 

Average             «  J.52//. 


>•             2'^  in                nf         a"™«< 

extensions 
«**                                     oh      ,,,  •      o 

T 

t 

\-              t«« 

o/                    ^^/ 

Experiments  and  their  Verification  163 

fore  feet  the  application  of  weight  would  act  as  shown  in  the  curves 
of  Fig.  19,  but  where  by  a  quick  muscular  contraction  the  front 
legs  have  a  jerky  action,  weight  seems  to  aggravate  such  action.  It 
would,  therefore,  take  a  great  deal  of  weight  to  effect  a  slight  increase 
in  extension.  And  again,  having  increased  such  front  action,  we  are 
apt  to  see  the  animal  go  very  low  behind ;  so  much  so,  in  fact,  that  the 
heels  of  hind  shoes  will  slide  a  couple  of  inches.  Such  a  contact 
with  the  ground  cannot  in  any  way  give  the  horse  any  improvement 
of  gait.  There  must  be  no  sliding  of  shoe  or  any  unusual  or  unequal 
concussion  with  the  ground  visible  in  the  foot  prints. 

The  off  hind  in  this  case,  was  carried  inside  of  off  fore  slightly, 
as  will  be  seen  in  the  next  trial  of  Fig.  132.  Here  we  have  again  an 
effect  of  the  toe- weight  applied  to  the  near  fore  foot  only,  which 
effect  for  extension  was  somewhat  counteracted  by  the  increased 
weight  of  shoe  (12  oz.)  For,  with  such  an  action  as  this  horse 
possessed  the  effect  of  weight  in  shoe  will  be  in  elevation  more  than 
in  extension.  Hence  the  light  toe-weight  on  near  fore  foot  did  not 
extend  that  foot  as  much  as  anticipated,  but  it  did  influence  the  off 
hind  in  a  measure. 

The  off  hind  has  a  shoe  with  a  little  thicker  web  (1/16  inch) 
on  account  of  the  lack  of  extension  of  that  leg  at  the  previous  trial. 
The  additional  ounce  does  not  in  itself  make  the  change  in  its  ex- 
tension, but  this  slight  change  and  the  influence  of  the  action  of  toe- 
weight  on  the  near  fore  have  the  desired  effect  of  regulating  the 
distances  of  the  correlated  feet,  making  these  practically  the  same. 
(3-35  —  3.30).  There  was  less  sliding  of  hind  heels,  even  though 
the  stride  was  the  same  and  the  distance  between  fore  and  hind 
feet  was  less.  (3.49  —  3.32  =  0.17  ft.  =  2.05  inches.)  Here  we 
have  the  true  trotting  extension,  that  is,  the  diagonal  feet  instead 
of  the  lateral  ones  extend  together,  and  in  consequence  we  have  a 
diminished  tendency  to  single- foot  which  existed  previously.  Incidental- 
ly attention  should  be  called  to  the  inaccuracy  of  shoeing  by  the  eye 
only,  for  the  difference  of  angles  of  hind  feet  (Fig.  131)  is  an 
error  that  a  hoof  gauge  would  readily  detect.  Such  differences 


164  Gait  of  tJie  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

will  make  a  horse  badly  gaited  and  often  produce  faults  hard  to 
eradicate. 

As  to  the  lateral  extensions  (Fig.  133)  it  may  be  noted  that  the 
off  hind  did  not  have  a  good  direction.  In  fact,  it  was  found  later 
that  it  had  the  tendency  to  overreach  and,  as  is  so  often  the  case, 
the  direction  changed  from  outside  to  inside  of  off  fore.  Such  cases 
as  this  one  cannot  be  mended  by  a  few  shoeings.  Owners  too  often 
expect  the  shoer  to  do  wonders  when,  piled  up  in  the  mechanism  of 
the  horse,  there  lie  the  various  cross-purposes  of  all  sorts  of  previous 
changes,  which  one  definite  plan  continued  for  a  long  period  alone 
can  eradicate. 

In  considering  the  effects  of  toe-weights  we  have,  therefore,  seen 
that  in  a  general  way  they  give  direction  to  the  fore  feet  and  increase 
their  action  and,  to  some  degree,  their  forward  extension ;  but 
their  influence  is  also  felt  by  the  hind  feet  and  these  are  drawn  for- 
ward rather  than  upward  so  that  their  extension  is  also  affected.  That 
is  to  say,  unless  shoes  are  used  which  by  their  shape  increase  the  ele- 
vation of  hind  action,  the  hind  forward  extension  is  visibly  increased 
by  the  use  of  toe-weights  on  the  fore  feet.  We  may  therefore  have 
the  spectacle,  so  often  observed,  of  a  horse  cleaving  the  air  with  splendid 
but  excessive  front  action  followed  by  "daisy-cutting"  hind  action,  but 
hind  action  that  gets  under  rather  to  excess.  If  we  were  to  judge 
efficiency  solely  by  speed,  then  the  trotter  with  long  toes,  low  heels, 
three  ounce  toe-weights  on  each  fore,  heavy  elbow  boots,  a  sky-scrap- 
ing nose  on  a  head  stiffly  propped  up  by  an  unyielding  checking  device 
and  with  light  plates  on  hind  feet,  and  a  mere  shuffle  for  action  behind, 
but  withal  able  to  trot  in  2  107,  or  better,  would  be  a  horse  of  almost 
ideal  perfection.  "There  you  are,  gentlemen,  can  you  beat  that? 
Otherwise  don't  criticise!"  the  trainer  will  probably  say;  and  with 
mere  speed  as  a  test,  or  as  a  standard  to  judge  by,  the  gentlemen  ad- 
dressed will  bow  their  heads  in  silence  or  raise  their  eyes  in  wonder- 
ment, as  their  individual  feelings  may  direct. 

With  good  will  toward  all,  but  especially  with  a  view  toward 
raising  the  real  efficiency  of  the  trotter  and  the  pacer  by  making  of 
them  animals  with  a  free  and  easy  motion  and  with  a  well  proportioned 


Experiments  end  their  Verification  165 

action  between  fore  and  hind  so  pleasing  to  the  eye,  the  writer  urges 
the  use  of  toe-weights  only  as  a  temporary  remedy  and  as  a  means  of 
educating  the  animal  to  a  steadier  way  of  going,  but  to  be  replaced, 
if  possible,  by  a  different  method  of  shoeing.  Toe-weights  with  a  re- 
sultant better  gait  serve  as  indicators  of  faults  of  extension  and  as 
such  they  are  a  ready  help  to  a  proper  balance ;  but  as  permanent  at- 
tachments to  the  foot  they  can  only  be  condoned  when  everything  else 
fails  to  effect  that  balance.  To  the  spectator,  or  the  general  public, 
who  expect  to  see  finished  graduates  from  the  training  school  appear 
in  the  contests  for  supremacy  in  speed,  such  paraphernalia  as  toe- 
weights,  cumbersome  boots  and  bandages,  hopples,  Raymond  or  simi- 
lar head  supports,  all  appear  highly  artificial,  forced,  unnecessary  and 
detracting  from  the  real  efficiency  of  the  horse.  The  only  appearance 
of  the  horse  at  such  contests  of  speed  that  will  insure  general  ap- 
proval should  suggest  efficiency  by  simplicity  and  beauty.  No  one 
knows  better  than  the  trainer  how  difficult  it  is  to  effect  such  a  com- 
bination as  efficiency,  simplicity  and  beauty.  Wherever  and  whenever 
he  has  done  so,  a  prompt  recognition  of  his  great  ability  has  been 
accorded  him  for  the  solution  of  so  difficult  a  problem.  That  has 
been  and  should  always  be  the  eminent  endeavor  of  the  American 
trainer  and  on  it  rests  not  only  the  popularity  and  reputation,  but  also 
the  continuous  improvement  and  evolution,  of  our  American  standard- 
bred  horse. 

IV. — KNEE  AND  HOCK  ACTION  REGULATED  BY  WEIGHT  AND 
SHAPE  OF  SHOES. 

Following  the  remarks  on  toe-weights,  and  before  the  effect  of 
equal  and  unequal  weight  is  entered  into,  it  might  be  well  to  recall 
the  instantaneous  pictures  of  Muybridge.  That  quartet  of  trotters, 
Occident,  Elaine,  Edgington  and  Clay,  will  furnish  some  interesting 
and  instructive  data  concerning  the  comparative  elevation  of  both 
front  and  hind  feet,  as  well  as  of  knee  and  hock  joints. 

In  judging  such  elevations  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  hock 
joint  is  normally  located  a  little  higher  than  the  knee  joint  and  that 


1 66  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

the  flexion  of  the  hock  joint  cannot  be  as  easily  and  as  completely 
accomplished  as  that  of  the  knee  joint.  The  very  fact  that  it  is  the 
reverse  of  the  forward  flexion,  with  its  angle  toward  the  direction 
of  motion,  tends  to  show  that  the  effort  of  flexing  cannot  be  so  long 
and  so  fully  sustained  as  in  the  knee.  The  respective  compensations 
in  the  legs  and  their  attachments  are  worth  noting.  The  comparative 
rigidity  of  shoulder  is  compensated  or  corrected  by  the  ready  flexibility 
of  fore  leg,  and  on  the  other  hand  the  comparative  stiffness  of  hind 
leg  is  compensated  or  corrected  by  the  greater  looseness  or  mobility 
of  the  hip  bone  or  femur.  These  differences  in  flexion  have  as  a 
consequence  corresponding  differences  in  elevation  of  the  hind  and 
fore  feet.  Action  proper,  however,  is  determined  by  the  elevation 
of  the  knee  and  hock  joints  because  these  are  not  only  prominent 
points  in  locomotion,  but  they  are  also  more  easily  and  readily  located 
by  the  eye. 

To  exemplify  such  a  comparative  elevation  we  need  only  appeal 
to  the  facts  or  deductions  from  the  famous  pictures  of  Muybridge. 
In  Fig.  134  such  comparative  elevations  are  illustrated  for  each  of 
the  four  horses  previously  considered.  The  curves  here  are  only 
conventional  arcs  of  a  circle  and  are  meant  merely  to  indicate  the  scope 
of  action  and  not  its  precise  movements,  the  latter  having  been  in- 
vestigated and  shown  before.  It  so  happens  that  the  points  of  ele- 
vation of  these  joints  and  feet  were  measurable  by  forty-eighth  parts 
of  an  inch  and  such  was  the  standard  taken  to  get  the  proportions. 
But  in  order  to  make  everything  more  visible  Fig.  134  was  made  on 
double  that  scale,  or  twenty-fourth  -parts  of  an  inch,  and  as  in  the 
former  standard  so  also  in  this :  five  parts  made  up  one  foot  as  given 
on  the  photographs.  The  accuracy  of  the  illustration  depends  on 
that  of  the  pictures  as  reproduced ;  but  they  are,  upon  closer  examina- 
tion and  after  making  allowance  for  blurs,  very  good  attitudes  from 
which  to  deduce  these  results.  The  horse  Occident  having  the 
highest  knee  action,  which  rose  to  15,  gives  us  the  extreme  from 
which  we  derive  the  various  proportions.  We  should  bear  in  mind 
that  the  hock  joint  stands  higher  than  knee  joint,  and  in  these  pictures 
the  latter  is  about  80  per  cent,  of  the  height  of  hock  joint,  this 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  167 

proportion  holding  good  in  all  of  the  four  subjects,  even  in  Occident, 


where  both  joints  drop  one  point  correspondingly.     Fig.   134  treats 
of  the  elevations  of  these  joints  as  they  are,  with  this  natural  differ- 


1 68  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

ence  in  height.    We  have,  therefore,  the  proportions  between  elevations 
of  hock  and  knee  action,  as  follows: 

Subject        Hock  Joint     (proportions)  Knee  Joint 

1.  Elaine               12                     (.86)  14 

2.  Occident           n                      (-73)  15 

3.  Edgington        11.5                   (.82)  14 

4.  Clay                  ii,                     (.85)  13 


Average          11.4  (.81)  14 

To  get  the  hock  action  itself  and  compare  it  with  the  knee  action 
we  must  reduce  the  former  to  the  same  base  line  or  reduce  the  ele- 
vations of  hock  joint  20  per  cent.  Hence  we  have: 

Subject        Hock  Action  (proportion)  Knee  Action 

1.  Elaine  9.6  (-685)  14 

2.  Occident  8.8  (-585)  15 

3.  Edgington        9.2  (-655)  14 

4.  Clay  8.8  (.675)  13 


Average         9.1  (.65)  14 

Therefore,  while  the  apparent  proportion  of  hock  and  knee  action 
is  about  81  per  cent,  the  actual  proportion  of  the  magnitude  of  hock 
action  to  that  of  knee  action  results  in  but  65  per  cent.  Fig.  135  —  i) 
will  illustrate  this  to  the  eye.  Recalling  the  curves  of  action  as  dis- 
cussed in  a  previous  chapter  under  Figs.  19  to  26  we  can  readily 
understand  these  comparative  elevations  by  studying  the  action  of 
the  subjects  in  motion.  In  watching  the  hock  action  one  is  apt  to 
locate  it  in  the  point  of  the  hock  rather  than  in  the  joint  proper,  for 
while  it  indicates  as  much,  it  does  not  give  the  real  elevation. 

Elaine  shows  on  the  whole  the  most  evenly  divided  action  between 
both  extremities.  Occident  is  an  example  of  excessive  knee  action 
and  its  influence  on  the  lowering  of  hind  action ;  while  Clay  with 
an  indifferent  knee  action  has  a  well  developed  hock  action,  causing 
trouble,  as  we  have  seen  in- Fig.  25,  by  probable  interference.  Abe 
Edgington  is  nearest  the  average  found  and  presents  here  a  good 
average  trotter.  Particular  note  should  be  made  of  the  backward 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


169 


extension  in  Elaine  and  Clay.  This  is  a  characteristic  of  good  hock 
action,  or  should  be  so,  and  again  shows  how  propulsion  is  effected 
by  an  equal  backward  and  forward  swing  of  the  leg  rather  than  by 
too  much  low  and  forward  extension. 


FJG.  7JS 


65 per  cent 


C  t> 

3)   Average  totaf  action 


te  per  cent 


Genera?  average  of  the  four  subjects  given 
Showing  comparative  magnitude  of  act /b/?  re- 
ofi/ceci  fo  a  common  basis,   and  an  average, 
for  total  fore  atwl  Mot/  hinol  action 

Let  us  now  compare  the  elevations  of  the  feet.     We  find  the 


following  figures: 
Subject. 

1.  Elaine 

2.  Occident 

3.  Edgington 

4.  Clay 


Average         6  (-60)  10 

The  elevations  are  all  specially  given  in  Fig.  134  for  each  sub- 
ject discussed  and  again  in  Fig.  135  —  2)  as  a  general  average  of  the 
proportion  between  the  elevations  of  hind  and  fore  feet.  From  that 


Hind 

(proportion) 

Fore 

7 

(.70) 

10 

5 

(•45) 

ii 

6 

(.60) 

10 

6 

(.66) 

9 

170  Gait  of  (he  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

we  find  that  60  per  cent,  constitutes  the  average  elevation  of  the  hind 
feet  as  compared  with  that  of  the  fore.  And  finally,  when  the  total 
action  of  both  the  joints  and  the  feet  is  taken  together  as  one  whole, 
we  find  that  the  hind  action  is  but  63  per  cent,  of  fore  action,  as 
illustrated  in  Fig.  135  under  3. 

Again,  we  have  in  Elaine  the  hightest  proportion  (.70),  with  Clay 
coming  next.  The  latter  is  deficient  in  front  action  and  the  proportion 
is  therefore  high  (.66).  The  greatest  disproportion  again  appears  in 
Occident,  whose  excessive  knee  action  discloses  again  too  low  a  hind 
action  to  bring  his  locomotion  into  proper  proportion.  While  in 
Elaine  and  Clay  the  proportion  between  hock  and  knee  action  (.685 
and  .675)  is  nearly  the  same  as  that  of  hind  and  fore  feet  action  (.70 
and  .66)  there  is  a  marked  difference  in  Occident  and  Edgington, 
their  proportion  of  hock  and  knee  action  (.585  and  .655)  being  much 
higher  than  their  proportion  of  hind  and  fore  feet  action  (.45  and 
.60).  This  proves  that  the  hock  flexion  of  the  first  two  is  far  greater 
than  that  of  the  last  two,  as  can  be  readily  seen  in  Figs.  23  and  25. 
That  is  to  say,  in  both  the  former  cases  (Figs.  22  and  24)  the  back- 
ward extension  was  greater,  which  resulted  in  greater  flexion  of  hock. 

The  point  raised  in  connection  with  these  investigations  is  that 
excessive  front  action,  whether  natural  or  effected  artificially,  has 
in  its  wake  a  lowered  hind  action;  and  again,  that  such  lowered  hind 
action  is  likely  to  result  in  greater  forward  extension  of  hind  feet, 
because  the  greater  curve  of  action  of  fore  foot  will  produce  a  cor- 
respondingly longer  curve  of  action  of  hind  foot  (Figs.  19-21)  ;  and 
if  the  backward  extension  is  lacking  and  the  hock  flexion  in  conse- 
quence is  absent  the  -forward  extension  of  the  hind  foot  will  be  all  the 
greater  in  order  to  equal  the  greater  front  action.  That  is  to  say, 
the  action  of  the  hind  foot  must  consume  the  same  period  of  time  as 
the  fore  foot  in  going  from  one  contact  of  ground  to  the  next  and  must, 
moreover,  strike  the  ground  simultaneously  with  it.  It  is  easy  to  see 
that  the  higher  the  curve  of  action  the  greater  the  time  consumed, 
and  hence,  the  curve  of  the  hind  foot  being  lower  is  apt  to  extend  fur- 
ther forward  to  equal  the  action  of  fore  foot  in  scope  and  time. 

This  quartette  of  horses,  now  again  used  as  examples  of  gait  or 


Experiments^  and  their  Verification  171 

action,  constitute  an  excellent  variety  of  equine  locomotion,  and  the 
average  from  them  should  stand  for  a  reliable  standard  to  judge  others 
by.  The  conviction  that  Muybridge  gave  us  more  than  mere  pictures 
has,  I  think,  been  sufficiently  confirmed  by  the  deductions  made  here. 
He  gave  us,  in  fact,  something  of  inestimable  value  to  the  student  of 
the  horse,  and  the  more  we  study  these  reproductions — very  well  done 
considering  the  times  and  the  appliances — the  more  must  we  feel  their 
importance  and  great  worth. 

The  excessive  knee  action  of  Occident  and  the  defective  knee 
action  of  Clay,  with  the  latter's  probable  interference  as  seen  in  Fig. 
25,  has  ever  given  rise  to  the  idea  that  the  main  purpose  in  curing  hind 
interference  is  to  get  the  fore  feet  out  of  the  way  of  the  hind.  Some- 
how, it  is  thought  that  the  hind  must  have  the  privilege  of  reaching 
forward  to  get  a  hold  of  the  ground  which  is  to  be  shoved  back  quickly, 
so  to  speak,  to  attain  speed.  Of  backward  hind  extension  as  a  cure 
for  interference,  little  is  said ;  but  on  this  very  question  of  proper  ad- 
justment of  hind  action  depends  the  balancing  of  most  trotters.  A 
trotter  must  have  good  knee  action  to  be  speedy,  but  he  should  have 
good  hock  action  to  balance  himself  well  and  in  a  more  natural  way 
than  is  customary.  Where  heavy  front  shoes  are  used  to  develop 
action,  very  light  shoes  are  generally  applied  to  hind  feet,  the  heel 
calk  being  the  only  design  to  check  consequent  forward  extension  of 
hind.  The  weight  of  the  shoe  is  so  intimately  connected  with  its  shape 
that  the  effect  ought  to  be  considered  as  a  whole,  though  the  effect  of 
any  difference  in  weight  will  appear  in  any  case  submitted.  Too 
much  stress  is  laid  on  weight  anyway,  whereas  the  shape  of  the  shoe, 
and  of  the  fo®t,  is  of  far  greater  importance.  That  is  why  the  great 
skill  of  our  American  shoers  has  accomplished  such  wonders.  No 
more  ponderous  shoes  of  freakish  shapes,  but  plain  shoes  with  nice 
devices  on  them  to  direct  action  and  motion,  and  shoes  well  and  in- 
telligently put  on  a  well  pared  foot — these  constitute  the  great  achieve- 
ments, simple  in  result,  but  difficult  of  attainment,  which  are  the  causes 
of  the  present  improvement  of  both  gait  and  speed  of  our  trotter  and 
pacer. 

Let  us  now  take  the  cases  for  illustration  that  have  been  shown  to 


172  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

contain  the  proof  of  the  influence  of  the  weight  and  of  the  shape  of 
shoes.  While  it  may  even  before  this  have  appeared  as  if  it  was  often 
necessary  to  use  unequal  weights  on  opposite  feet,  it  should  be  borne  in 
mind  that  such  differences  are  rarely  of  a  permanent  nature.  Struc- 
tural faults — unequal  hoofs  or  unequally  developed  muscles — may  re- 
quire such  a  permanent  adjustment,  and  any  faults  of  gait  may  be  cor- 
rected by  such  a  course;  but  it  should  also  be  remembered  that  the 
normal  condition  of  equality  on  both  fore  and  a  similar  equality  on 
both  hind  should  be  the  best  way  to  balance  the  horse,  if  his  anatomy 
is  equally  well  developed  at  each  extremity. 

It  should  also  be  remembered  that  the  greater  the  speed  the 
smaller  the  changes  necessary  for  a  better  balance;  but  the  claim 
that  a  "rough"  gait  at  slow  speed  will  become  "smooth"  when  the 
speed  is  increased  is  too  often  based  on  a  deception  of  observation. 
By  the  greater  exertion  of  increased  speed,  the  faults  become  less 
visible  or  audible,  but  they  will  remain  just  the  same.  Training  out 
deficiencies  of  gait  by  driving  or  working  can  never  be  a  logical  or  in- 
telligent method  of  perfecting  the  gait.  It  is  merely  a  blind-man's-buff 
illusion  of  trying  to  get  what  we  want  without  knowing  where  we  are 
at.  A  temporary  remedy  is  the  only  proper  thing  to  apply  after  the 
fault  has  been  definitely  located,  and  this  is  always  within  the  mental 
reach — or  should  be  so — of  a  competent  trainer. 

Mere  weight  of  the  shoe,  regardless  of  the  shape  of  the  shoe  or 
of  the  angle  of  the  foot,  has  the  general  effect  of  increasing  the  ac- 
tivity in  both  fore  and  hind  feet.  But  as  far  as  its  effect  on  extension 
is  concerned,  there  seems  to  be  this  distinction,  namely : 

In  fore  legs,  mere  weight  is  apt  to  decrease  extension  and  increase 
elevation. 

In  hind  legs,  mere  weight  is  apt  to  increase  extension  and  decrease 
elevation. 

For  the  difference  in  elevation  and  extension  so  brought  about, 
compare  the  Figs.  20  and  21.  At  both  extremities  weight  gives  to  the 
feet  a  better  direction  and  in  consequence  it  steadies  the  motion  of  the 
horse. 

To  illustrate  the  point  in  question,  Fig.  136  may  add  clearness  to 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


173 


the  equine  locomotion.  I  have  always  had  in  view  the  proposition  of 
applying  the  kinetoscope  to  the  horse  in  motion  by  having  the  camera 
move  alongside  of  the  animal  with  equal  speed.  The  result  would  be 
a  stationary  picture  as  far  as  the  horse  is  concerned,  with  all  the  mo- 
tions given  in  detail  on  the  same  spot,  while  the  ground  would  appar- 
ently move  away  from  the  horse  at  the  rate  of  his  speed.  The  eye 
could  then  more  readily  follow  each  movement  of  the  legs  and  body 
without  being  compelled  to  follow  a  series  of  pictures  such  as  those 
of  Muybridge  of  thirty  years  ago.  Such  an  exhibit  would  be  highly 
instructive  and  strictly  up  to  date. 

,Fig.  136  is  intended  to  show  the  probable  curves  of  motion  of  the 
legs,  as  seen  in  such  a  possible  exhibit.  It  is  not  claimed  to  be  an  exact 
representation  of  such  motion,  except  in  so  far  as  it  shows  the  relative 

HO./36 


positions  of  fore  and  hind  legs  and  their  angles  at  that  position.  They 
present  a  pair  of  correlated  legs  moving  together  in  either  trot  or  pace. 
D  A  is  a  stationary  line,  D  being  the  vertex  of  axis  of  hind  leg. 
and  A  that  of  fore  leg.  The  angles  at  hock  (E)  and  at  knee  (B)  are 
supposed  to  be  just  opening  with  the  forward  reach  of  the  legs.  At 
this  moment  the  legs  unfold  and  extend  forward.  The  hock  joint 
having  D  for  a  vertex  and  the  knee  joint  having  A  for  a  vertex,  will 
approximately  describe  the  curves  o  and  p;  and  the  hind  feet  F  and 
the  fore  foot  C,  having  hock  and  knee  joints  for  vertices  respectively, 
would  describe  curves  of  motion  indicated  by  n  and  m,  were  it  not  for 
the  above  mentioned  curves  o  and  p,  which  in  turn  modify  or  change 
the  curves  n  and  m.  The  resultants  we  will  assume  to  be  the  curves  r 
(hind)  and  s  (fore).  The  dotted  lines  are  the  legs  when  extended 


J74  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

and  about  to  touch  the  ground  M  N.  This  is  about  what  would  hap- 
pen when  the  motions  could  be  brought  before  the  reader  by  the 
kinetoscope. 

It  will  be  evident  why  weight  of  shoe  is  likely  to  increase  the 
rapidity  of  the  motion  curves  n  (hind)  and  m  (fore) — these  being  the 
upward  curves  of  hind  and  front  action — and  also  why  the  difference 
between  the  rapidity  of  motion  curves  F  r  (hind  foot)  and  C  s  (fore 
foot)  is  due  not  only  to  the  difference  in  angles  of  E  and  B,  but  also  to 
their  different  elevations.  While  the  curve  C  s  is  and  must  be  de- 
scribed more  quickly  than  the  curve  F  r  in  order  to  have  both  feet 
reach  the  ground  at  the  same  moment,  the  chances  for  extension  for 
the  fore  foot  C  are  not  as  natural  as  are  those  of  hind  foot  F ;  that  is 
to  say,  the  direction  of  the  curve  F  r  of  the  hind  foot  is  more  inclined 
toward  extension  than  the  direction  of  C  s  of  fore  foot.  In  other 
words,  the  unfolding  of  fore  leg  is  not,  under  ordinary  conditions,  as 
favorable  to  forward  extension  as  is  the  straightening  out  of  hind  leg 
with  its  more  open  angle  and  better  natural  direction  for  extension 
as  compared  with  the  fore. 

These  conclusions  were  drawn  from  numerous  cases,  some  of 
which  will  now  be  given.  Great  care  has  been  employed  in  general- 
izing from  the  actual  results  obtained,  and  although  the  interrelation 
of  the  four  moving  feet  makes  the  study  of  balancing  very  intricate, 
the  repetition  of  effects  from  similar  causes  and  with  different  horses 
should  warrant  the  conclusions  so  drawn. 

Through  the  kind  co-operation  of  Mr.  K.  O'Grady  and  his  sons 
of  San  Mateo,  Cal.,  I  have  been  able  to  accomplish  a  great  deal  in 
these  investigations,  and  one  of  the  interesting  cases  there  was  a  bay 
gelding  by  Sable  Wilkes.  He  was  a  powerful  individual,  with  only 
medium  action  in  front,  and  could  trot  a  mile  easily  in  2:25,  and  be- 
sides was  a  great  roadster,  with  the  ability  o-f  pulling  a  buggy  without 
visible  exertion.  He  had,  however,  one  fault  that  made  him  go  un- 
even, and  to  remedy  this  he  was  taken  in  hand.  His  off  hind  foot  was 
short  in  forward  extension,  and  was  often  placed  inside  of  the  off 
fore  foot,  a  common  manner  of  shifting  with  horses  so  afflicted.  Such 
a  way  of  going  was  certainly  fatal  to  speed  around  the  turns,  besides 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


175 


causing  an  awkward  and  uneven  gait.  Weight  on  the  off  hind  was 
the  plan  adopted.  When  he  came  into  my  hands  for  shoeing  he  was 
shod  as  given  in  Fig.  137.  Front  feet  were  very  steep  (55°),  and  the 
hind  feet  were  not  equal  in  angle,  besides  being  a  good  deal  longer  in 
toe  than  the  front  feet,  thus  causing  a  pointing  back  of  fore  and  a 
pointing  forward  of  hind.  The  average  distance  between  fore  and 
hind  was  only  2.94  feet,  while  the  overstep  of  hind  over  fore  was  4.85 


55° 


55*  57* 

Fl  0.137 


/S.6+H. 


feet  for  a  stride  of  only  15.64  feet.    There  was  also  a  visible  influ- 
ence of  the  retarded  off  hind  on  its  correlated  mate,  the  near  fore. 

To  show  how  the  off  hind  was  deficient  in  extension,  it  should 
be  mentioned  that  at  times  its  extension  was  only  6  feet,  while  that  of 
near  hind  was  9  feet,  making  together  a  stride  of  15  feet.  Or,  again, 
it  would  be  6.90  feet  and  the  near  9.05  feet,  making  a  stride  of  15.95 
feet.  Or,  again,  6.90  feet,  as  against  8.70  feet  of  near,  and  so  on.  It 


176  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

only  once  exceeded  its  proper  proportion,  or  one-half  of  stride,  and 
measured  7.85  feet. 

The  whole  trial  was  irregular  and  unsatisfactory.  The  lateral 
extension  and  angles  taken  proved  by  Fig.  138  that  the  off  hind  was 
the  disturbing  element  in  the  gait.  Besides  that,  he  hit  his  knees. 
Having  little  elevation,  but  great  rapidity  of  motion,  this  animal  gave 
the  impression  of  being  speedy.  The  main  purpose,  after  stopping 
the  knee  hitting,  was  to  try  weight  on  off  hind.  At  first  the  shoe  was 
only  2  oz.  heavier,  which  was  gradually  increased  to  5  oz.  In  connec- 
tion with  this  weight  a  lower  angle  and  a  longer  toe  was  tried  as  a 
remedy.  The  changes  were  all  made  gradually  so  as  to  prevent  any 
sudden  jars  by  inequalities.  No  change  in  shoeing  should  be  sudden 
or  radical.  At  the  end  of  four  months  he  was  shod  as  given  in  Fig. 
139.  It  should  be  mentioned  here  that  both  the  near  fore  and  the  near 

Lateral  extensions  -  reduced  one  half 
nK  nf      oK    ;  of 

t  t         t     I 1 

7.7'/ 

\F/6./38. 

hind  were  somewhat  dished  in  their  frontal  surface,  and  to  counteract 
that  a  steeper  angle  of  foot  was  maintained.  Dished  hoofs  do  not 
measure  well  on  the  hoof-gauge,  and  as  a  rule  have  a  tendency  to 
point  forward,  because  this  faulty  frontal  surface,  normally  straight, 
deceives  the  man  who  takes  the  angle  of  the  foot;  and  the  result  is 
that  such  a  foot  is  left  at  a  lower  angle  and  with  a  longer  toe  than  its 
opposite  mate.  This  alone  causes  an  irregularity  of  gait,  and  there- 
fore this  fault  of  a  dished  frontal  surface  should  always  be  taken  into 
careful  consideration.  Hence,  the  near  fore  here  appears  with  i°  more 
in  angle  of  foot.  Besides,  this  will  facilitate  the  leverage  of  the  dished 
toe.  Both  front  shoes  are  beveled  from  toe  around  outer  half  to 
counteract  breaking  over  on  inside  toe  and  to  point  in  instead  of  out, 
which  latter  is  usually  responsible  for  the  vicious  inward  curve  of 
motion  that  causes  knee  hitting.  The  roll  in  shoe  from  toe  to  heel 
induces  a  little  more  action  and  elevation  of  fore,  and  the  increased 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


177 


weight  has  the  same  purpose.  Behind  we  have  the  same  length  of  toe 
and  the  heavy  shoe  on  off  hind,  with  a  lesser  angle  to  effect  extension. 
The  result  shows  some  improvement.  The  separation  of  feet  is  0.41  ft. 
4.92  in.  more  than  in  Fig.  137  (3.35—2.94),  and  the  off  hind  is 


or 


brought  up  closer,  though  not  yet  in  proper  position.     This  increased 
separation  of  fore  and  hind  brought  the  gait  more  into  harmony  with 


66° 


54.'-* 


Swelled  heels 
heels  oil  I  alike,  . 
Extensions  : 


FIG.  139 


Distnf-oh  -  3.44 Ft 
D/sf.  of-nh  -  3.27  f/ 
2)1  ff.  ./7//. 

or  2.0+  in 

Average  dis/-.  -  3.35ft: 
Overstep  =  +.  72  f/. 
Stride  =  iBjfff. 


2.52  m 


the  length  of  the  horse;  that  is,  there  was  a  better  articulation    or 
swinging  of  legs  at  both  ends. 

The  following  year  a  similar  plan  of  shoeing  prevailed,  and  the 
gradual  improvement  is  perhaps  worth  giving  here,  even  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  the  one  heavy  hind  shoe  was  not  the  only,  though  the 
principal,  factor  in  effecting  the  desired  even  gait  and  balance.  After 
two  preliminary  shoeings  the  one  of  Fig.  140  showed  results  as  given 
below  that  illustration. 


178 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


It  will  be  noticed  that  the  near  fore  is  i°  more  in  angle  than  the 
off  fore.  It  was  assumed  that  such  a  greater  angle  facilitated  the 
leverage  of  the  dished  toe.  A  dished  toe  naturally  forms  a  lower  angle 
with  the  heel  than  a  toe  with  a  straight  frontal  line.  Fig.  141  will  il- 


to* 


n 

1      < 
S2° 


12 
y 
SI 


roll 


F/G.  140 


f/O.  HI 


cad  =  L  elf 
£  Co,  e,  -  L  c3  d 
L.  C  b  oL  is  true  ang/e  of  foot 


.41m 


Dish,  of -n?i  ~  3.05  ft: 
Dist.  ?if-oh  '  3.00  ft . 
D/'ff  .05ft. 

o  r.  6  in  . 

Average     «  3.03ft. 

J/yvo'e        »        J  6. 77  ft. 

lustrate  this  difference.  Here  the  angle  c-a-d  is  less  than  the  angle 
c-b-d,  because  the  point  of  toe  at  "a"  is  farther  removed  from  the 
point  of  heel  "d"'  than  the  point  "b."  The  true  angle  of  the  foot  is 
really  c-b-d,  with  the  dished  toe  rasped  off  to  some  extent,  because  the 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  1 79 

point  "a"  of  the  dished  toe  and  the  point  "c"  of  the  coronet  are  not  in 
a  straight  line  common  to  all  or  nearly  all  the  points  in  a  normal  frontal 
line.  Hence  we  must  strike  an  average  frontal  surface  line  by  rasp- 
ing off  a  part  of  the  dished  toe  from  "a"  to  "b,"  or  nearly  so,  in  order 
to  make  the  angles  of  both  front  feet  alike ;  or,  again,  we  may  leave 
the  dished  toe  intact  and  increase  the  angle  of  that  foot  slightly  to 
make  it  conform  in  effect  to  that  of  the  other  front  foot.  A  great  deal 
depends  on  rinding  the  difference  of  extensions  between  the  two  feet  ;• 
for,  a  dished  toe  is  apt  to  cause  greater  forward  extension,  and,  again, 
it  may  cause  the  leg  to  lag  or  point  back  on  account  of  a  difficult  lever- 
age at  the  toe.  It  is,  therefore,  important  to  find  the  effect  by  estab- 
lishing the  habitual  extensions  in  front  and  then  regulate  the  angles 
accordingly. 

It  will  also  be  seen  that  off  hind  (Fig.  140)  is  y$  in.  longer  in  toe,, 
in  order  to  cause  greater  extension  according  to  the  rules  of  David 
Roberge.  Moreover,  the  lower  heel  or  lesser  angle  of  the  same  foot 
is  a  move  in  the  same  direction.  The  hind  shoe  being  heavier,  is  natur- 
ally a  little  thicker  in  web,  even  though  it  was  ordered  wider  rather 
than  thicker  in  web.  The  supposition  was  that  this  leg  lacked  both 
length  and  momentum.  In  fact,  in  most  trials  the  outside  heel  of  off 
hind  was  too  visible  on  ground.  The  impact  and  sliding  of  that  heel 
hinted  at  some  inability  to  suspend  the  foot  from  the  ankle  joint,  or 
rather  to  keep  it  stretched  forward  in  suspension  until  it  would  natur- 
ally strike  the  ground. 

Subsequent  shoeings  on  the  same  pten  finally  stopped  the  inclina- 
tion to  hop  behind,  which  was  due  to  this  unequal  extension  of  hind 
feet.  There  developed  a  gradual  reversal  of  extension  so  that  in  the 
end,  with  the  shoeing  as  given  in  Fig.  142,  and  with  proper  paring  of 
feet  to  diminish  the  outward  angles  of  feet  and  to  counteract  inter- 
ference, the  animal  was  driven  three  miles  in  2 130,  2 127  and  2 127,  the 
last  one  of  which  showed  the  result  in  extension  given  in  that  figure. 
The  shoeing  previous  to  this  was  about  the  same,  the  principal  change 
being  an  increase  of  toe  length  of  y%  inch  all  round  and  slightly  swelled 
heels — but  less  so  than  on  near — on  the  off  hind  instead  of  an  even 
web.  The  angles  of  fore  feet  were  also  changed,  so  that  near  fore  was 


i8o 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


a  little  lower  in  heel  than  off  fore.  This  lower  heel,  however,  seemed 
to  increase  its  extension  somewhat  and  effect  the  better  extension  of 
the  off  hind  also  in  a  measure. 

The  feet  with  the  longer  toes  (n  f  and  o  h)  increased  extension 
also  in  a  measure.    The  final  result  can  therefore  be  said  to  have  been 

^n-    toes     3J^- 
12  ^^  n/2 


roll 


3%  in. 


>l    ^ 


F/6./42. 

(ft        HI)  3.36 /'/>. 


f-nh^  3.17ft. 
Dish  nf -oh  -  3j53ft. 

Diff  -     -"ft- 

or  /.68  in . 
Average      =      3.1O&. 


satisfactory.  The  horse  took  the  turns  well  and  trotted  squarely.  In 
this  trial  he  was  in  a  race  with  a  horse  of  greater  speed,  and  being 
fully  extended,  and  with  a  long  stride  (i8.ii  ft.)  for  a  rapid  going 
trotter,  it  could  be  said  that  he  was  well  balanced.  Some  modifica- 
tions might  have  become  necessary  later  on  if  he  had  stayed  in  train- 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


181 


ing,  as  the  effect  of  such  an  adjustment  became  more  pronounced;  but 
enough,  at  any  rate,  had  been  shown  to  warrant  the  plan  of  shoeing 
gradually  evolved  from  the  various  trials. 

Let  us  briefly  consider  the  evolution  of  the  gait  due  to  various 
adjustments  intended  to  regulate  it.  Without  a  plan  based  on  previous 
facts,  we  could  not  logically  bring  about  an  improvement.  We  must, 
therefore,  resort  to  a  method  by  which  we  can  establish  comparisons 
in  order  to  see  clearly  the  effect  of  all  changes  made.  Even  if  such  a 
method  as  this  is  not  followed  out  in  every  detail,  the  main  principles 


FIG.H3. 


.3  bin. 


.36  in} 


Distof-nh*    2. 93  ff.  • 
Disf.nf-ofi*   2,#3 ft. 

or  1. 2Qin . 
Auerao/e       =      2.38 
Stride,          -     /7   ft. 


Disf:  nf-oh  =  3.60  ft. 

Dish,  of  -rib  =  3.58  ft. 

Di'ff.  .02  ft. 

or  .24-/n. 

Average     -         3.59ft 
Si- ride.       =       1 6. 3+ ft. 


could  be  acquired  by  every  trainer,  so  that  he  may  be  spared  a  good 
many  disappointments  and  useless  efforts  when  the  whole  matter  of 
balance  is  left  to  guess  work  and  its  rough  estimates. 

In  Pig.  143  we  have  a  comparative  representation  of  such  an  evo- 
lution of  the  extensions.  The  extensions  given  were  the  results  of 
two  trials  made  between  those  of  Fig.  140  and  Fig.  142.  The  shoes 
worn  in  Fig.  I43-A  and  in  Fig.  142  were  alike,  and  those  of  Fig. 
I43-B  were  also  the  same  with  the  exception  of  off  hind,  which  had 
no  swelled  heels.  The  comparisons  of  these  trials  will  illustrate  what 
can  be  done  merely  by  the  paring  of  the  hoof.  Given,  therefore,  a 
set  of  shoes,  it  is  in  our  power  to  vary  the  movements  of  a  gait  by  a 


1 82  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

different  adjustment  of  the  shoes.  Aside  from  the  difference  of  the 
off  hind  shoe  noted  above,  there  is  only  the  paring  of  the  hoofs  as  a 
cause  for  the  various  results. 

In  Fig.  I43-A  and  B  the  angles  in  front  were  the  same  as  in  Fig. 
142,  that  is,  50°  and  51°  respectively  for  the  near  and  off  fore  foot, 
and  behind  they  were  both  55°  in  A  and  55°  and  54°  in  B,  as  in  Fig.  142. 
This  horse  always  did  better  with  a  lower  angle  on  the  off  hind,  on  ac- 
count of  its  lack  of  extension,  and  when  that  foot  had  a  shoe  without 
swelled  heels,  as  in  Fig.  143-6,  it  responded  still  better.  Again,  in  Fig. 
I43-A  both  front  feet  were  alike  in  length  (3^  in.),  but  in  B  the  near 
fore  was  3%  in.  and  the  off  fore  3^8  in-  The  lengths  of  the  toes  behind 
were  in  A:  3^  in.  and  3%  in.  respectively  for  the  near  and  off  hind; 
and  in  B :  3^  in.  and  3^5  in.  for  the  same  feet.  The  toes  in  Fig.  142 
were  all  around  */£  in.  longer  than  in  Fig.  143-6.  This  increased  lev- 
erage at  the  toe  no  doubt  had  something  to  do  with  the  greater  varia- 
tions from  the  average  stride  as  noted  below.  The  fact  remains  that 
the  horse  trotted  remarkably  square  and  true  under  the  conditions  of 
Fig.  I43-B.  The  subsequent  adjustment  of  Fig.  142  was  rather  an 
exaggeration  of  the  previous  conditions  and  therefore  caused  too 
marked  a  difference  of  the  extensions. 

The  greater  stride  in  the  latter  case  (i8.n  ft.)  will  naturally 
bring  about  a  greater  separation  of  the  extremities,  and  will  show  up 
the  effects  in  a  more  marked  manner.  By  comparing  the  total  varia- 
tions of  each  leg  from  the  average  stride  we  shall  again  notice  the  in- 
fluence of  the  different  adjustments.  We  have  the  following: 

FIG.  I43-A,  17  FT.— 

nf  of  nh  oh 

7-30  5-15  7-35  6.87 

FIG.  I43-B,  1^.34  FT.— 

5-34  4-i6  6.57  4.85 

FIG.  142,  18.11  FT.— 

11.25  I2-27  !3-23  9-59 

I 

Here  we  have  the  smallest  variations  in  the  trial  which  was  trotted 
best  and  with  the  least  apparent  effort.    It  should  be  remembered  thtit 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  183 

this  horse  had  an  energetic  and  rather  short  gait,  which  seemed  to  be 
disturbed  by  the  increased  toe  leverage  of  Fig.  142,  as  the  variations 
above  would  indicate.  The  adjustment  of  Fig.  I43-B  suited  him  much 
better.  These  comparisons  serve  to  bring  out  the  observation  that  a 
horse  can  not  always  be  extended  much  more  than  is  natural  for  him, 
nor  can  his  gait  be  shortened  very  much ;  but  in  either  event  the  gait 
may  be  regulated  so  as  to  overcome  an  increased  tendency  toward  a 
longer  or  shorter  gait. 

In  all  these  trials  nothing  was  done  by  means  of  poles  to  direct 
the  off  hind  more  to  its  outside  line  of  motion,  so  that  its  direction 
would  correspond  with  that  of  the  near  hind.  The  position  of  the  off 
hind  foot  was  no  doubt  an  old  habit  which  not  even  the  increased  ex- 
tension of  the  off  hind  would  rectify  completely. 

In  Fig.  144  are  given  a  series  of  lateral  extension  with  the  angles 
of  the  feet,  which  may  give  the  reader  an  idea  as  to  the  extent  to  which 
the  directions  of  the  feet  are  amenable  to  treatment.  The  positions  of 
the  feet  of  the  trial  of  Fig.  142  are  not  included,  but  they  are  very 
similar  to  those  of  143-6,  showing,  however,  lesser  angles  in  front  and 
a  placing  of  off  hind  on  the  outside  of  the  median  line,  as  in  Fig. 
I43-A  on  this  comparative  illustration  of  Fig.  144.  Barring  this  con- 
firmed fault,  it  goes  to  show  that  the  shoer  has  more  or  less  control 
over  the  directions  of  the  feet. 

A  very  small  alteration  in  the  way  of  shaping  the  feet  and  the 
shoes  will  result  in  a  better  direction,  less  interference,  or  none  at  all, 
and  in  an  all  round  improved  gait. 

These  five  diagrams  of  Fig.  144  will  indicate  the  possibilities  of 
continued  effort  to  correct  the  locomotion  as  regards  the  angles  of  the 
feet,  and  in  consequence  also  the  curves  resulting  therefrom.  For  in- 
stance, the  fore  feet  toed  out  and  knee  hitting  was  the  result.  Reduc- 
ing the  angles  to  4.7°  and  5.3°  reduces  the  inward  curves,  and  there 
can  be  no  interference,  or  at  least  very  much  less.  Knee  hitting,  in 
this  case,  ceased  altogether. 

What  we  were  discussing,  however,  was  the  influence  of  weight 
of  shoes,  and,  though  it  has  been  shown  that  extension  is  increased 

the  action  of  hind  legs  equalized  thereby,  the  influence  of  such 


1 84 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


correction  exerted  on  the  fore  legs  should  be  borne  in  mind.  In  this 
case  it  was  necessary  to  improve  the  extension  of  the  off  hind,  and  in 
accomplishing  that  we  increased  the  extension  of  its  correlated  leg  or 
the  near  fore.  It  seems  impossible  for  a  trotter  to  take  the  turns  well 


reduced  one 

*/,       nf      Oh 

t   t  t 

half 

0^ 

t 

V  V-  A- 

(See  fig.  136  J 

»l          nf             °£> 

t             t               t 

of 
t 

\           o      \                         / 

\       '                   \       '                         /      '  • 

(See  fig.   137  ) 
'Tib                        n  f 

,t              t 

$• 

oX 
t 

o/1 

T 

I\7.J°                 \S.f 
(See  fig.  1+3.  A  ) 
nti                           nf     oh 

1               t   t 

A,. 

of 

T 

\                            \        /   ' 

(Jee  f/y.     143.  B  ) 
7)  h                              n  f 

t                 t 

i 

6'  ' 

<?y 

t 

\S.7f                               \*T 
Sec  fig.  139. 
FICr./ 

/  /»  A"  0 

-/ 

unless  the  off  hind  leg  has  a  free  swing  forward  and  unless,  likewise, 
the  near  fore  takes  the  lead  ahead  of  the  off  fore. 

The  case  wound  up  with  an  excess  of  extensions  in  b(3th  near  fore 
and  off  hind.  It  may,  therefore,  become  necessary  to  modify  such 
excess  by  the  various  means  at  our  command.  The  principal  point  *at 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  185 

issue  was  to  effect  the  equal  extension  of  hind  legs,  on  which  balance 
and  a  square  trot  depended  in  this  case.  Now  let  us  examine  similar 
cases  and  verify  the  case  just  illustrated. 

A  Nutwood  Wilkes  gelding  with  near  fore  leg  weak  on  account 
of  a  swelled  tendon  and  with  a  bog  spavin  on  near  hind,  presents  an- 
other case  of  unequal  extensions  by  reason  of  such  faults  or  unsound- 
ness.  In  his  action  he  was  bold  and  impressive  with  fore  and  showed 
a  fairly  good  hind  action.  His  weakness,  as  mentioned,  became  evi- 
dent at  his  first  trial,  where  he  showed  a  greater  extension  with  both 
off  fore  and  off  hind.  In  a  trotter  such  extension  on  one  side  does  not 
forebode  any  good,  because  the  greater  extension  should  more  natur- 
ally result  diagonally  and  not  laterally.  In  this  horse  the  excess  of 
extension  was  as  follows : 

Off  fore  over  near  fore  ==  0.28  ft.,  or  3.36  in. 

Off  hind  over  near  hind  =  0.51  ft.,  or  6.12  in. 

He  wore  plain  shoes,  8  oz.  in  front  and  6  oz.  behind,  the  fore 
having  an  approximate  angle  of  49°  and  the  hind  53°.  His  natural 
attitude  in  front  was  straight,  but  behind  he  stood  under  slightly.  The 
average  distance  between  the  correlated  feet,  or  between  front  and 
hind  in  general,  was  in  this  trial  only  3.03  ft.,  with  an  overstep  of  5.22 
ft.  For  a  long-bodied  horse  these  were  out  of  proportion  to  his  stride 
of  16.5  ft. 

Our  next  trial  was  after  a  shoeing  intended  to  show  the  effect  of 
different  lengths  of  toes.  By  having  near  fore  toe  longer  than  off  fore, 
the  extension  of  near  fore  was  increased  (to  avoid  a  shock  to  the  in- 
jured leg  on  account  of  such  a  longer  foot)  ;  and  by  the  relation  be- 
tween it  and  the  off  hind,  the  latter  extension — even  then  excessive—- 
became greater  still,  and  the  difference  between  hind  extensions  was 
quite  abnormal,  being  10.92  in.  greater  on  off  hind.  While  the  fore 
extended  as  follows: 

Near  fore.  Off  fore.  Total. 

8.31  8.27  16.58 

The  hind  showed: 

Near  hind.  Off  hind.  Total. 

7.38  9.20  16.58 


1 86  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


Dividing  the  actual  difference  by  2,  we  have,  as  before,  a  very 
small  difference  in  fore  extension,  but  a  very  large  difference  in  hind, 
as  above  noted.  The  average  distance  between  the  extremities  was  in 
this  case  3.12  feet. 

Then  followed  a  shoeing — at  the  usual  interval  of  three  weeks — 
which  was  also  not  quite  correct.  It  appears  in  Fig.  145.  The  equal 
lengths  of  toe  in  fore  put  the  extension  of  off  fore  back  to  where  it 
was ;  and  the  square  toe  on  the  off  hind  facilitated  action  and  counter- 
acted the  greater  weight  on  near  hind  and  its  own  steeper  angle. 

Extensions 


FIG.  146 


JjJain.  but- 
web  thicker 


'  heels 

Square  /"oe 


FIG.  14-5 


b  c    =      2^.62  ft . 
-/>///  .63  ft . 

or  7.S6  m. 

Average.    ~      2.34-  ft 
Stride      =    16.18  ft 


We  have  therefore  the  same  faulty  extension  on  off  side,  with 
which  a  trotter  can  never  accomplish  a  square  gait.  The  distance  be- 
tween fore  and  hind  (2.94  ft.)  is  also  smaller  than  it  should  be  for  the 
stride  of  16.18  feet. 

The  following  shoeing  was  done  according  to  the  indications  of 
the  previous  trials,  and  appears  in  Fig.  147.  The  result  of  it  was  a 
somewhat  better  gait  and  a  greater  extension  of  near  hind,  together 
with  a  checking  of  off  hind  extension.  The  off  fore  again  extends 
more  than  near  fore  by  3.6  inches,  slightly  more  than  in  Fig.  146. 
While  its  distance  from  near  hind  increased  by  0.21  ft.  (3.46  —  3.25) 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


187 


over  that  in  Fig.  146,  the  distance  on  the  other  two  diagonal  feet  in- 
creased by  0.44  ft.  (3.06  —  2.62),  showing  in  all  the  regulating  effect 
of  weight  on  near  hind,  as  well  as  a  somewhat  greater  reaching  out  of 
both  fore  in  this  stride  of  17.24  ft.  It  appears  again  as  if  a  greater 
stride  would  have  with  it  a  greater  separation  of  front  and  hind  ex- 
tremities. The  conclusion  is  in  a  general  way  correct,  and  is  sustained 
by  other  investigations.  The  comparisons  here  of  the  two  strides 
given — 16.18  ft.  and  17.24  ft. — and  their  respective  average  distances 
between  fore  and  hind — 2.94  ft.  and  3.26  ft. — will  present  with  suffi- 


Extensions 


FIG.  1*7 


3'/zin. 


foes. 


3'/2/n.  33/sin. 

foes 
ff\]  \(8 


53° 


plain  -    but- 
vj&b  thicker 


swelled  heels 


del  =  3.1-6  ft. 
b  C  =  3  .06  fh  . 
cliff  *0  ft  . 

or  4.8  in  . 

average.  =     3.26  ft? 
Si-note,    =    17. 24- ft. 


cient  clearness  the  general  effect  of  a  change  of  shoeing;  and  it  will 
also  serve  as  an  illustration  of  the  danger  that  lies  in  the  lengthening 
out  of  the  animal's  body  by  the  strain  that  is  put  on  its  back  and  its 
tendons.  It  is,  therefore,  well  to  bear  in  mind  this  distance  and  its  pro- 
portion to  the  length  of  the  animal  as  it  appears  when  at  rest ;  that  is 
to  say,  such  a  distance  between  the  extremities  when  the  subject  is  at 
rest  will,  with  some  horses,  decrease  somewhat  under  great  speed  be- 
cause of  the  backward  propelling  power  of  the  fore  legs  and  the 
anxiety  of  the  hind  legs  to  gain  ground  and,  so  to  speak,  take  a  hold 
of  it  to  effect  propulsion.  The  same  observation  can  often  be  made  in 


1 88  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

draft  horses  when  they  start  a  heavy  load.  It  all  depends  on  condi- 
tions and  is  largely  due  to  conformation.  As  a  rule,  however,  an  in- 
crease of  speed  will  separate  the  extremities  a  little  more  than  usual, 
and  if  no  excess  results  it  seems  quite  natural  for  the  horse  to  do  so. 

Such  greater  separation  with  increased  speed  is  observed  when 
forging  ceases  at  a  faster  gait;  but  again  the  decreased  distance  or 
faulty  approach  of  extremities  shows  itself  in  speedy-cutting.  I  be- 
lieve that  the  proper  distance  between  hind  and  fore  is  worthy  of  study 
and  consideration,  for  it  is  really  an  important  indicator  of  a  good 
gait  and  enters  largely  into  the  question  of  balance,  with  a  view  to  con- 
tinued soundness. 

The  telling  effect  of  weight  is,  of  course,  more  readily  accom- 
plished by  greater  speed.  What  six  additional  ounces  may  cause  at  a 
four-minute  gait,  three  ounces  may  do  at  a  gait  of  two  minutes  and 
twenty  seconds. 

Elsewhere  I  have  explained  the  auxiliary  importance  of  finding 
the  variations  of  the  actual  strides  of  the  four  feet  from  the  general 
average  stride  in  order  to  see  which  legs  are  more  active  or  more 
regular.  The  smaller  in  scope  these  variations  are,  that  is,  the  less 
they  exceed  or  fall  short  of  the  average  stride,  the  greater  must  be  the 
regularity  of  that  gait.  While  the  case  last  considered  showed  the 
effect  of  weight  and  would  in  time  have  shown  a  more  correct  and 
even  extension,  these  variations  were  quite  excessive.  Here  it  is  where 
variations  indicate  a  fault  or  unsoundness  that  incapacitate  the  animal 
from  continuing  a  racing  career.  The  subject  at  a  stride  of  17.24  ft. 
showed  the  following  variations  from  that  average: 

Near  fore.  Off  fore.  Near  hind.  Off  hind. 

+  545  —  545       +  5-93  —  5-^4      +  8.96  —  7.16      +  5.61  —  5.91 

Total   Scope. 
10.90  11.77  16.12  11.52 

proving  according  to  the  rule  in  Chapter  IV.  that  off  fore  is  the 
stronger  leg  because  of  its  greater  variations,  and  off  hind  is  the 
stronger  leg  because  of  its  lesser  variations.  In  fact,  the  near  hind 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  1 89 

shows  very  excessive  variations  (16.12),  which  cannot  possibly  be  con- 
ducive to  speed  or  to  a  really  square  gait.  This  is  mentioned  merely  to 
bring  up  the  matter  of  variations  as  an  auxiliary  indication  of  the  dis- 
turbing causes  of  an  irregular  gait. 

Other  experiments  have  repeatedly  shown  this  influence  of  unequal 
weight  in  hind  shoes.  It  is  not  claimed  that  these  shoeings  were  ab- 
solutely the  only  correct  ones  to  put  the  subject  into  the  proper  gait, 
although  the  effort  was  always  directed  toward  that  aim.  Take,  for 
instance,  a  third  case  where  weight  was  thus  applied.  The  subject 
was  well  bred,  but  knuckled  over  behind,  causing  irregular  extensions 
in  both  extremities  and  too  great  a  scope  of  variations.  The  horse  was 
said  to  have  trotted  a  full  mile  in  2:17  and  was  by  Directum.  He 
generally  went  pretty  free  and  bold  with  fore,  but  behind  skipped  a 
good  deal,  although  his  hind  action  was  above  the  average.  He  also 
had  the  bad  fault  of  greater  forward  extension  of  hind  over  fore ;  that 
is  to  say,  though  his  average  step  was  15.80  ft,  the  fore  together 
averaged  15.77  ft.,  while  the  hind  together  averaged  15.84  ft.  This 
does  not  by  any  means  indicate  that  the  hind  stride  was  continuously 
longer  than  that  of  the  fore,  but  that  for  those  20  strides  the  tendency 
of  hind  was  to  be  more  active  than  the  fore,  and  in  this  trial  the  hind 
legs  seemed  to  be  running  or  bounding  along.  If  more  of  the  ground 
had  been  measured  and  additional  data  had  been  taken,  it  would  have 
been  found  that  such  a  longer  stride  (0.84  inch)  did  not  prevail  in  the 
total  distance,  always  provided  the  horse  had  trotted  squarely.  There 
was,  however,  this  tendency  of  excessive  hind  activity,  and  the  indi- 
vidual extensions  of  feet  were  as  follows: 


Near.  Off. 

8.12  7.65 

Dividing  the  difference  between  fore  by  2,  we  have  0.235  ft,  or 
2.82  in.  for  the  position  of  near  fore  ahead  of  off  fore ;  and  likewise 
with  hind  we  have  the  off  hind  0.63  ft.,  or  7.56  in.,  ahead  of  near  hind. 
The  horse  wore  12  oz.  in  front  and  8  oz.  behind.  The  toes  were  2>1A 
in.  long  all  round,  and  the  fore  had  an  angle  of  49°,  while  the  hind 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

were  54°.    Great  irregularity  of  gait  was  expressed  by  the  total  varia- 
tions from  average  stride: 

Hind- 
Near.  Off. 
15-55               10.65 

The  distance  between  extremities  being  rather  long — 3.88  ft. — a 
further  separation  by  means  of  toeweights  seemed  ill-advised.  Hence 
the  idea  of  unequal  weight  suggested  itself. 

During  the  previous  season  the  horse  had  received  some  attention 
and  some  success  had  been  achieved  by  merely  shaping  the  length  of 
hoof  and  angle  differently  on  hind  feet.  A  higher  angle  and  a  shorter 
toe  having  generally  less  extension  than  a  lower  angle  and  a  longer 
toe,  the  desired  result  was  effected ;  but  habits  of  extensions,  such  as 
skipping  behind,  are  hard  to  eradicate,  and  after  a  while  the  horse  re- 
lapsed into  his  old  way  of  going.  It  was,  therefore,  necessary  to  em- 
phasize or  exaggerate  the  difference  by  weight,  toe  and  angle  all  at'the 
same  time.  I  did  not  from  the  start  consider  this  case  amenable  to 
treatment,  but  to  prove  the  effect  of  weight  with  a  resultant  improved 
gait  this  plan  was  followed  out.  Fig.  149  will  illustrate  this  shoeing, 
and  the  consequent  extensions.  There  is  apparently  a  conflicting  testi- 
mony in  the  treatment  of  the  fore  feet  as  compared  with  the  fore  of 
Fig.  147,  the  extension  of  the  latter  being  greater  with  the  foot  of 
longer  toe  and  greater  angle,  in  other  words,  with  the  longer  foot  or 
the  off  fore;  while  in  this  case  (Fig.  149)  the  apparently  shorter  foot 
takes  the  lead.  The  latter  effect  is  generally  found  to  prevail,  and  this 
horse  being  sound  in  front,  while  the  previous  subject  was  unsound  in 
the  near  fore  through  a  swelled  tendon,  seems  to  prove  the  rule  by  the 
greater  extension  of  the  off  fore. 

The  idea  of  having  the  hind  toes  longer  than  the  front  toes  was 
erroneous,  and  especially  with  a  horse  that  inclined  to  knuckle  over. 
This  horse  always  had  had  longer  hind  toes  and  hence  the  suggestion 
at  the  time.  The  main  remedy  for  knuckling  over  seems  to  be  an 
easy  roll-over  at  the  toe ;  that  is,  a  roll  in  shoe  from  heel  to  toe,  but 
with  a  slightly  beveled  heel  to  check  the  rapidity  of  the  break-over 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  191 

towards  the  toe.  If,  however,  the  heel  is  arrested  suddenly  or  sinks 
too  far  into  the  ground,  the  ankle  will  go  over  as  before.  It  seems  as 
if  the  suspending  ligaments  have  lost  their  power  to  keep  the  ankle 
joint  in  position  long  enough  to  allow  the  backward  extension  to  be 
finished  before  the  foot  is  again  lifted  for  another  stride. 


foes 


so* 

beve/led  on  oufsicfe.  +0 
knee  hitting  . 


II 


"heel 


near  hind:  we.l> 
Extensions  • 


FIG.  149 

of-nh  =3.58 


diff       -      .24-fl- 
or  2.88  in. 


average  -•  3.46  f-h 
Stride    -  15.5  ft 


It  should  be  noted  that  the  distance  between  the  exrremities  is  con- 
siderably less  in  this  trial  (3.46  ft),  as  compared  with  that  of  previous 
trial  (3.88  ft.),  when  the  stride  averaged  15.8  ft.,  or  only  0.3  ft.  more 
than  the  present  stride  of  15.5  ft.  This  difference  is  about  5  in.  (0.42 
ft.),  and  shows  the  greater  approach  of  the  extremities  by  the  influ- 
ence of  greater  weight  and  longer  toes  behind.  Looking  at  the  varia- 


192  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

tions  from  the  average  stride  we  again  notice  a  change  for  the  better, 
viz.: 

Near.  Off.  Near.  Off. 

9.29  9.57  9.83  11.24 

This  shows  plainly  that  the  two  legs  most  deficient  in  extension — 
the  off  fore  and  the  near  hind — have  now  become  more  regular  in 
their  variations  as  against  the  previous  trial,  when  they  showed  15.30 
and  15.55  in  tota^  °f  variations.  But  the  variations  are  still  too  wide 
in  scope  to  constitute  a  regular  gait. 

Various  other  applications  of  weight  to  the  hind  feet  have  had 
the  same  result  when  the  object  was  to  equalize  the  extension  of  both 
hind.  It  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  effect  of  weight  as  far  as 
extension  is  concerned  depends  also  largely  on  the  shape  of  the  shoe. 
In  the  last  case,  for  instance,  we  might  have  directed  the  hind  feet 
differently  and  prevented  their  extensions  from  being  greater  than 
those  of  fore.  Instead  of  rocking  motion  shoes  with  a  thin  heel,  there 
should  have  been  swelled  heels  on  both  hind  shoes  and  a  square  toe  on 
near  hind  to  accelerate  action,  which  in  this  case  would,  by  the  extra 
weight,  have  caused  greater  extension ;  but  such  a  course  would  have 
been  detrimental  to  the  weak  ankles  which  needed  the  rocking  motion 
of  shoe  to  prevent  further  injury  and  to  lessen  the  knuckling  over  of 
these  hind  ankles.  This  horse  was,  therefore,  not  free  from  the  ag- 
gravations of  unsoundness ;  but  such  is  the  lot  of  the  man  who  under- 
takes to  convert  a  badly  gaited  horse  into  a  well  gaited  one :  he  is  apt 
to  be  given  the  hardest  cases.  Many  cases  will  come  and  go  like  the 
shadows  of  passing  clouds,  and  the  expectations  of  the  man  in  trouble 
remind  one  of  the  signs  in  small  tailor  shops :  "Clothes  mended  while 
you  wait."  Many  may  differ  with  me  in  the  application  of  the  remedy, 
but  I  believe  that  the  experiments  embodied  in  this  extended  investiga- 
tion of  the  trotting  gait  will  be  sufficiently  suggestive  of  remedies  on 
similar  lines.  As  long  as  the  work  is  done  with  this  method  of  analysis 
as  a  basis  and  an  accuracy  of  adjustment  is  maintained,  there  must  fol- 
low an  improvement  of  the  disordered  gait  such  as  the  animal  in  ques- 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  193 

tion  is  capable  of.  The  experiments  are  not  given  to  be  followed  im- 
plicitly, but  are  rather  to  be  accepted  as  suggestions  in  reasoning  out 
such  an  improvement  of  the  gait  by  means  of  a  method  which  is  here 
offered  as  a  rational  solution  of  the  problem  of  balance. 

Having  considered,  in  a  general  way,  the  effect  of  weight  of 
shoes  on  hind  feet,  we  shall  now  proceed  to  investigate  the  effect  of 
squared  toes  on  any  one  or  on  all  feet,  incidentally  examining  weight 
on  front  feet,  and  then  passing  on  to  the  effect  of  longer  heels  on  hind 
shoes. 

A. — SQUARED  TOES  OF  SHOES. 

We  will  first,  however,  look  at  the  effect  of  equal  weight  on  both 
hind  feet  when  using  a  shoe  that  will  facilitate  the  break-over  at  the 
toe,  that  is,  the  shoe  with  the  squared  toe.  A  filly  by  Sidney  Dillon 
presents  just  such  a  case  where  weight  of  hind  shoes  was  directed  by 
the  shape  of  the  shoe.  This  filly  had  good  front  action,  which  was 
straightly  directed,  and  because  the  hock  action  was  also  good,  sHe  was 
shod  in  the  customary  way:  9  oz.  in  front  and  6  oz.  behind.  The 
usual  prejudice  against  interference  with  the  hock  action  prevailed, 
and  the  same  old  principle  of  getting  the  fore  feet  out  of  the  way  of 
the  hind  feet  was  believed  to  be  the  only  proper  manner  of  regulating 
her  gait. 

Most  of  my  trials  took  place  on  a  piece  of  an  old  track  well  kept 
up,  and  of  a  fine  loamy  soil  that  afforded  excellent  footing  when  it  was 
cared  for ;  but  there  was  a  slight  incline  on  the  stretch,  and  while  most 
trials  were  made  downhill,  many  a  one  was  taken  both  ways.  This 
filly  could  always  trot  more  steadily  and  strongly  when  going  uphill. 
She  would  lose  the  shifting  or  skipping  behind  and  pick  up  her  feet  in 
a  more  exact  manner.  This  fact  first  suggested  the  trial  of  heavier 
hind  shoes  both  in  this  case  and  in  others  that  afforded  a  similar  ob- 
servation. (This  going  downhill  and  uphill  is  similar  to  the  two  ways 
of  going  of  Edgington  in  sulky  and  under  saddle,  as  given  in  Figs.  28 
and  29,  where  the  weight  on  his  back  acted  like  the  depression  of  hind 
quarters  as  caused  by  the  uphill  movement  of  the  filly  in  this  case. 


i94 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


This  case  is  a  very  fine  example  of  the  influence  of  weight  on  hind 
feet  and  of  its  direction  by  the  shape  of  the  shoe.  It  is  a  case  where 
a  well  developed  hind  action  under  ordinary  work  changed  into  an  ex- 
cessive hind  extension  which  was  not  in  harmony  with  front  action. 
From  the  usual  9  oz.  in  front  and  6  oz.  behind,  indications  suggested 
the  unusual  6  oz.  in  front  and  9  oz.  behind.  Through  it  all  there  was  a 
queer  tendency  to  extend  both  members  of  the  near  side  ahead  of  those 
on  the  off  side,  as  if  the  subject  would  prefer  to  pace;  but  this  she 
never  offered  to  do.  The  experiments  were  made  in  two  seasons,  the 

FIG 


Downhill 


Uph.ll 


.6m 


1.08  >n 


Swe//ed  Short  heels 


Vf-oh  =  3.24ft 
of  nh  *  3.-  ff- 
cliff  -  2+ Ft 

or  2.88  in 

average  =  3.12  ft 
stride  -  /£<?2  ft 
overstep  =  4.39 -Ft 


nf-oh  -  $24  ft 
oF  -nh  -  3.11  ft 
diff  =  .13  ft 

or  1.56m 

average  —  3.18  ft 
Stride  -  J4-,.3f>ft 
overstep*  3.99ft 


first  one  ending  as  above  stated  regarding  the  shoes  and  the  second 
beginning  again  on  the  old  plan,  but  quickly  changing  to  the  final  de- 
cision, which  not  only  lengthened  her  stride,  but  increased  her  speed 
very  considerably. 

After  a  preliminary  trial  made  to  get  an  idea  for  the  next  shoeing, 
she  was  shod  as  given  in  Fig.  150.  The  near  fore  had  a  tendency  to 
toe  in  so  that,  while  at  previous  trial  the  off  fore  showed  5.5°  outward 
toeing,  the  near  fore  showed  — 3.2°  or  that  much  inward  toeing.  By 
paring  the  foot  as  indicated  under  the  shoe,  the  near  fore  at  this  trial 
showed  o°,  or  a  straight  direction. 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  195 

The  hind  feet  in  previous  trial  showed  a  lack  of  distance  between 
them,  and  by  paring  inside  of  both  we  gained  an  increase  from  4.3  in. 
of  previous  trial  to  7  in.  in  this  trial.  Her  gait  was  therefore  more 
open,  as  intended. 

There  being  also  an  uphill  trial,  I  give  the  extensions  of  both  in 
Fig.  151.  Although  the  stride  of  the  downhill  was  naturally  longer 
(15.02  ft.)  than  that  of  the  uphill  trial  (14.36  ft.)  by  8  in.,  there  was 
a  slight  increase  in  the  separation  of  the  extremities  (about  y±  in.) 
and  the  overstep  of  hind  over  fore  on  either  side  was  a  good  deal  less, 
namely,  0.4  ft.  or  4.8  inches,  though  this  difference  is  not  excessive,  con- 
sidering the  shorter  stride.  It  stands  to  reason  that  there  was  in  the 
uphill  trial  a  good  deal  more  exertion  at  propulsion,  as  the  variations 
from  each  average  stride  will  prove,  namely: 

DOWNHILL. 
Total  Var.  Total  Var. 

. Fore Hind 

Near.  Off.  Near.  Off. 

+  1-73  —  J-78    .+  1-72  —  1-27  +  1.49  —  1.84    +  2.04  —  2.39 

3-51  2.99  3.33  443 

UPHILL. 

+  2.40  —  2.58    +2.95  —  2.80  +3.19  —  3.09    +3.29  —  2.99 

4.98  5.75  6.28  6.28 

The  hind  feet  seem  to  have  less  forward  extension,  as  the  dif- 
ference in  the  oversteps  will  show.  The  reason  that  the  separation 
of  extremeties  is  not  greater  (3.18  ft.  —  3.12  ft.  =  0.06  ft.,  or  y^  in.) 
lies  in  the  fact  that  the  fore  feet  also  tend  to  have  more  backward  ex- 
tension going  uphill.  The  off  fore  that  was  behind  the  near  fore  going 
downhill  points  back  still  more,  and  the  near  hind  that  pointed  for- 
ward going  downhill  now  ceases  to  do  so  going  uphill.  With  this 
greater  action  of  hind  we  lose  therefore  the  too  free  activity  of  the 
near  hind,  and  the  result  is  that  the  extension  of  both  hind  becomes 
more  equal  than  it  was  going  downhill. 

This  incline  of  the  track  was  surveyed  and  showed  on  the  stretch 
used  for  the  experiments  the  following  grade : 

14  inches  in  400  feet. 


196  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

This  is  an  incline  not  too  steep  to  cause  any  material  commotion 
in  the  animars  movements,  and  represents  about  the  usual  downhill 
path  of  the  homestretch  on  many  tracks.  Since  a  horse  is  supposed 
to  make  his  greatest  efforts  at  that  part  of  the  mile,  he  should  show 
then  the  best  possible  gait  and  balance,  and  as  it  is  a  severe  test  for 
the  balance  of  the  horse  to  be  compelled  to  control  the  additional  mo- 
mentum of  a  downhill  path,  it  always  seemed  to  me  as  being  an  ap- 
propriate place  to  find  out  the  very  faults  of  gait  which  cause  distress. 
Still  more  appropriate  were  the  double  trials;  that  is,  one  shoeing 
tested  in  both  downhill  and  uphill  directions,  which  will  be  discussed 
in  Chapter  IX. ;  but  many  other  trials  were  made  on  level  tracks. 

Wishing  to  give  this  matter  another  test  before  reversing  the 
weights  of  the  shoes,  another  trial  was  made  with  the  same  shoes  reset 
and  angles  of  hind  feet  lowered  i°.  With  about  the  same  stride  down- 
hill (15.08  ft.)  and  a  similar  one  uphill  (14.23  ft.),  there  is  still  a 
larger  difference  in  the  averages  of  extensions  behind  in  the  downhill 
trial,  namely: 

Hind 


Off.  Near.                 Off. 

o  +42                   o 

Now,  having  the  subject  trot  uphill,  we  have: 

Fore Hind 

Near.                 Off.  Near.                Off. 

+.03                   o  +.  10                   o 

which  all  means  that  in  the  downhill  trial  the  near  fore  preceded  the 
off  fore  1. 08  in.,  and  the  near  hind  preceded  the  off  hind  5.04  in. ;  and 
that  in  the  uphill  trial  these  differences  dwindle  down  to  negligible 
distances.  Again  comparing  the  other  distances  we  have : 

Stride.          Dist.  correl.  feet.          Oversteps. 

Downhill    15.08  3.30  4.24 

Uphill    14.23  3.34  3.77 

which  are  all  in  about  the  same  proportion  as  those  of  previous  trials, 
with  perhaps  .a  shade  less  separation  of  extremities  than  formerly. 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  197 

My  notes  say  that  she  trotted  very  much  better  uphill  than  downhill. 
It  will  be  observed  that  the  distance  between  the  extremities  in  the 
downhill  trial  with  the  longer  stride  is  less  than  that  of  the  uphill  trial 
with  the  shorter  stride,  showing  thereby  the  excessive  activity,  or 
rather  the  excessive  extension  of  the  hind  legs  downhill. 

These  trials,  therefore,  determined  me  to  put  6  oz.  shoes  on  fore 
and  9  oz.  shoes  on  hind  feet.  The  tradition  is  that  such  a  change  is 
likely  to  bring  about  a  pacing  gait.  In  fact,  with  the  extensions  on 
the  same  side  (i.e.,  near  side),  I  was  inclined  to  fear  that;  but  shod 
as  in  Fig.  152,  she  trotted  fairly  well,  except  that  her  gait  was  a  little 
irregular,  and  the  hind  shoes  slid  a  good  deal  at  the  heels.  She  also 
forged  a  little  now  and  then.  The  result  showed  some  improvement, 
but  there  was  still  that  pacing  extension  on  near  side.  The  stride  was 
not  as  extended,  and  appeared  to  be  a  little  short-gaited  or  tied  up. 

The  season  was  near  its  close,  and  a  few  trials  with  unequal 
weight  in  hind  shoes  did  not  improve  matters  very  much.  These  trials 
proved  again  that  the  relation  between  fore  and  hind  enters  largely 
into  the  effect  which  any  unequal  weight  may  have  on  one  particular 
foot.  Besides,  there  are  length  and  angle  of  toe,  and  the  shape  of  shoe 
to  be  considered.  Experience  has  shown  me  that  any  difference  of 
length  of  toe  is  not  conducive  to  an  even  gait  except  where  there  is  a 
difference  in  the  size  or  shape  of  the  hoofs,  or  where  in  conjunction 
with  a  higher  heel  the  whole  leg  is  lengthened  by  a  fraction  of  an 
inch  in  order  to  counteract  any  difference  in  length  between  two  op- 
posite fore  or  hind  legs.  So  much  depends  on  the  evidence  of  the 
tracks,  which  reveal  the  weak  points  of  the  four  feet,  that  enough 
stress  cannot  be  laid  on  its  study.  No  horse  is  perfect,  and  all  four 
legs  do  not  always  move  and  act  alike.  The  difference  may  be  a  tem- 
porary habit,  but  it  may  also  be  a  permanent  structural  inability,  which 
can  be  found  only  by  a  persistant  analysis  of  the  gait  and  overcome  by 
shoeing  to  meet  the  demands  of  a  square  gait. 

Even  in  these  last  trials  of  that  season  it  became  apparent  that 
the  weight  of  shoe  and  the  angle  of  the  foot  worked  well  together  as 
a  combination  and  that  when  the  conditions  of  length  of  toe  and  shape 


198 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


of  shoe  were  equal  as  regards  either  the  two  fore  or  the  two  hind  feet, 
the  former  could  be  effectively  used  to  regulate  the  gait  of  the  filly. 
The  following  season  this  filly  was  again  shod  on  the  old  plan, 
namely,  9  oz.  in  front  and  6  oz.  behind,  with  an  angle  of  48°  on  fore 
and  of  52°  on  hind,  the  front  toes  being  3^  in.  and  the  hind  ones  3^ 
in.  The  shapes  of  the  shoes  were  the  same  as  before.  While  the  fore 
showed  a  fairly  good  hold  of  ground,  the  hind  plain  shoes  slipped  now 
at  heels,  now  at  toes.  Fig.  153  gives  the  extensions  of  that  shoeing  and 


swelled  heels 

Extensions : 


i. 4-4- in. 

FIG. 152: 

vf-oh  =     3.26fr. 
oF-nh  - 


or  2.28 in. 
average,  •=.  3.18ft. 
Stride  -  14-joft. 
overstep  »  3.88  f/ 


.84-in. 


of-nh  = 
diff.     = 

or 

diff  above  =   2.34  in  . 
du e /o gr&a fer     -30  in  . 
extension  offiinol=.02S  ft 
aueraqe,   -       3.^6  ft . 
6tricte      =       15.65  Ft. 
Fore.  *  l5.6+Ft.hind^S.69ft. 
diff   ••*  -  0  in  . 


trial.  We  still  have  the  greater  activity  of  the  hind  legs ;  in  fact,  it  is 
too  plainly  seen  in  the  two  averages  of  the  fore  (15.64)  and  of  the 
hind  (15.69).  While  I  still  contend  that  the  average  stride  for  all 
four  legs  must  be  the  same,  the  small  difference  between  fore  and 
hind  average  in  this  as  well  as  in  a  former  case  serves  to  indicate  a  lack 
of  harmony  between  the  fore  and  hind  action.  In  a  square  gait  such 
differences  do  not  appear  and  can  not  exist.  The  average  distance 
between  extremities  is  again  closer  than  it  had  been  and  by  observa- 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  1 99 

tion  it  was  seen  that  action  in  front  was  higher  than  it  used  to  be.  At 
a  distance  it  gave  the  impression  as  if  she  was  single- footing  just  a 
little  now  and  then.  From  the  variations  of  the  strides  it  was  seen 
that  they  were  all  nearly  the  same,  with  the  exception  of  the  near  fore, 
which  exceeded  the  other  three,  showing  the  tendency  of  that  leg  to 
point  forward.  This  may  have  been  due  to  the  near  hind  reaching 
forward  habitually,  hence  the  greater  extension  of  near  fore  to  avoid 
the  interference.  It  was  evident  that  the  hind  extension  had  to  be 
checked  in  order  to  equalize  it  with  that  of  fore.  As  is  well  known, 
there  are  two  remedies  for  that:  square  toes  and  heel  calks.  I  chose 
them  both  for  the  next  shoeing,  and  it  was  plainly  demonstrated  that 
the  mare's  good  hind  action  could  thereby  be  restored  and  converted 
from  too  much  low  extension  into  higher  elevation.  The  front  shoes 
were  creased  at  the  toe  to  afford  a  firmer  hold,  since  the  previous  trial 
showed  some  slipping  of  the  toes  of  the  fore  feet.  The  shoeing  is  given 
in  Fig.  154.  We  notice  an  easier  and  longer  stride  and  the  expected 
check  to  hind  extension.  The  average  distance  between  extremities 
has  increased  to  3.32  ft.,  and  the  extension  of  off  hind  over  near  hind 
is  quite  marked.  Again  the  observation  was  made  that  the  turns 
were  taken  much  better  and  more  steadily  and  without  loss  of  time  or 
speed. 

In  the  beginning  of  this  chapter  under  Figs.  90  and  92,  the  ad- 
vantage of  just  such  a  change  of  extension  was  explained,  and  this  is 
another  example  of  the  importance  of  not  only  ascertaining  what  the 
extensions  are,  but  also  of  trying  to  change  them  in  order  to  have  the 
animal  take  the  turns  with  greater  ease  and  without  loss  of  speed. 

I  increased  the  angle  of  off  fore  because  the  toe  on  that  foot  was 
somewhat  dished  and  flattened  out ;  and  in  order  to  overcome  such  a 
toe  leverage  as  compared  with  that  of  the  opposite  mate,  the  heel  was 
raised.  Observations  to  that  effect  were  made  in  a  previous  case  and 
will  appear  again  subsequently.  The  off  hind  had  likewise  a  some- 
what lower  heel  than  near  hind,  which  may  in  part  account  for  its 
greater  extension.  It  may  as  well  be  mentioned  that  where  such  dif- 
ferences of  angles  or  toes  are  made  there  may  appear  indifferent  re- 
sults; but  much  depends  upon  the  accurate  execution  of  the  work, 


2OO  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


and,  if  there  is  not  the  expected  result,  a  second  trial  under  similar 
but  with  more  emphasized  conditions  should  be  made.  Too  much 
changing  from  one  extreme  to  the  other,  and  trials  too  soon  after 
shoeing,  all  lead  to  confusion  of  results. 

Aided  by  the  eye,  the  last  trial  of  this  filly  showed  more  room  for 
improvement  still.  For  the  next  shoeing  I  chose  the  one  given  in  Fig. 
155.  There  will  be  seen  the  change  to  heavier  hind  shoes  again,  a 


foes 
creased 


roll 


Extensions  : 


FIG.  15*. 

Disl-.of-nh  «  J.  +5 ft. 
Dtst-.nf-oh  =  3  lift, 
<////.  -  .  .24- ft 

or  2.38/n. 

average  -  3.32  ft . 
Stride  =  16.07ft. 
overstep  *  +.72  ft. 


8 
i 
J2«  W 

Squared,  foes  . 

FfCr.lSS. 


shorter  toe  for  the  hind  than  for  the  fore,  and  an  increased  angle  for 
off  hind  to  facilitate  the  turns  in  backward  extension  and  to  check  any 
excess  of  forward  extension,  such  as  the  previous  trial  indicated.  The 
creased  toe  of  front  shoe  and  the  scooped  or  concave  toe  of  hind  shoe, 
with  a  square  toe  at  its  point,  were  again  employed.  These  creases 
prevent  slipping  in  a  measure,  and  the  concave  toes  act  like  "grabs" 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  201 

and  keep  hold  of  ground,  while  the  heel  calks  of  the  hind  shoe  and  .its 
square  toe  enable  the  foot  to  break  over  quickly,  thereby  excluding  a 
long  contact  with  ground  and  inducing  a  higher  action. 

Unfortunately,  n«o  trial  was  made  on  account  of  a  misunder- 
standing and  the  filly's  subsequent  removal ;  but  there  was  a  great  im- 
provement in  her  gait  and  speed.  Whether  subsequent  developments 
showed  this  to  be  the  right  balance  I  do  not  know.  She  was  going 
well  then,  and  very  soon  after  showed  an  easy  mile  in  2.27.  Her  fast- 
est mile  before  that  was  about  2.45. 

Her  case  again  proves  that  weight  on  hind  feet  increases  their  ex- 
tension and  also  that  such  extension  can  be  converted  into  a  higher 
action  by  the  properly  shaped  toe,  as  in  this  instance  the  squared  toe 
heel  calk  shoe  proved  to  be. 

It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  the  filly  had  naturally 
good  hock  action  similar  to  that  of  Lou  Dillon,  and  that  the  neglect  of 
same  caused  it  to  become  lower  and  more  extended,  which  spoiled  her 
gait.  Only  by  bringing  it  back  to  its  former  elevation  by  the  proper 
shoe,  were  her  gait  and  speed  improved.  My  former  contention, 
therefore,  that  the  hind  action  should  be  looked  after  as  well  as  the 
front  action  and  that  heavy  shoes  in  front  do  not  by  themselves  solve 
the  problem  of  balance,  seems  to  be  borne  out  in  this  case  as  well  as 
in  other  cases. 

As  regards  weight  in  front  shoes,  I  have  also  some  evidence  to 
offer  to  the  reader.  Let  me  again  urge  upon  him  the  necessity  of  hav- 
ing a  clear  analysis  of  the  gait  of  the  animal  to  be  shod,  so  that  the  in- 
telligent horseshoer  may  at  least  not  be  quite  in  the  dark  as  to  what 
remedy  to  apply.  It  should  be  the  trainer's  business  to  ascertain  the 
peculiarities  of  gait  in  detail  and  also  to  know  the  various  results  from 
various  shoeings.  Great  nicety  of  adjustment  of  shoe  and  hoof  is  the 
first  requisite  of  balancing  a  horse,  and  this  the  shoer  can  only  ac- 
complish when  properly  instructed  as  to  the  manner  of  locomotion. 

Action  in  front  is  not  always  amenable  to  remedies  intended  for 
greater  extension.  We  have  seen  that  toe-weights  have  that  influ- 
ence on  extension  to  a  certain  degree ;  but  again  much  depends  on 
whether  the  action  is  rapid  or  naturally  more  sweeping.  Heavy  shoes 


2O2  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

in. front  have  a  better  effect  on  the  rapidly  gaited  trotters  and  toe- 
weights  bring  apparently  the  best  results  on  those  with  a  longer  reach. 
Equally  heavy  shoes  in  front  seem  to  increase  elevation  rather  than 
extension  of  action;  they  help  to  balance  the  horse  by  giving  the 
action  in  front  a  certain  regularity  and  steadiness. 

The  direct  effect  of  weight  in  the  shoe — provided  the  same  is 
equally  distributed  in  the  web — occurs  with  the  flexion  rather  than 
with  the  unfolding  of  the  leg;  in  fact,  it  increases  the  flexion  of  the 
leg  if  so  directed  by  tne  shape  of  the  shoe. 

To  illustrate  the  relative  flexion  of  fore  and  hind  legs  again,  let 
me  call  attention  to  Fig.  156.  It  represents  a  simple  piece  of  machin- 
ery such  as  the  eye  presumes  to  see  on  one  side  of  a  trotter.  Let  A  B 
be  the  body  and  A  C  H  the  hind  and  B  D  F  the  front  articulation  in 


M  N       P  o 

general.     The  direct  effect  of  weight  on  H  will  be  upward  (M  H) 

and  forward  while  the  angle  at  C  closes ;  while  the  same  effect  on  F 

will  be  also  upward  (N  F)  but  backward  while  the  angle  at  D  closes. 

The  flexions  both  at  C  and  D  are  here  presumed  to  be  at  their 

4 

greatest  point,  and  H  as  well  as  F  at  their  highest  elevation.  The  re- 
maining parts  of  the  paths  H  P  and  F  O  have  therefore  a  downward 
tendency,  with  this  difference:  C  having  reached  its  greatest  eleva- 
tion, its  angle  unfolds  or  opens  more  readily,  and  the  momentum  of 
the  weight  in  shoe  is  therefore  more  readily  transmitted  in  a  more 
forward  direction,  while  D,  though  at  its  greatest  point  of  flexion,  is 
raised  still  higher  (E),  when  its  angle  opens,  and  in  the  path  of  F  the 
momentum  of  shoe  is  therefore  transmitted  in  a  more  dowmvard  di- 
rection. In  other  words,  at  the  unfolding  of  the  hind  leg  the  mo- 
mentum of  weight  is  directed  in  a  more  horizontal  line,  while  at  the 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  203 

unfolding  of  the  fore  leg  the  momentum  of  weight  is  directed  in  a 
more  vertical  line. 

The  angle  at  C  is  open  toward  the  direction  of  motion,  while  the 
angle  at  D  opens  in  an  opposite  manner  and  away  from  it.  Therefore 
it  is  evident  that  forward  extension  is  much  more  natural  for  the  hind 
leg  than  it  is  for  the  fore  leg.  While  weight  on  the  hind  foot  may 
lower  the  elevation  of  action,  it  easily  increases  extension ;  but  in  order 
to  increase  extension  in  the  fore  legs  we  must  not  have  too  great  a 
flexion  of  knee  or  closing  of  angle  B  D  F,  but  rather  a  sufficient  ele- 
vation of  the  knee  D,  together  with  a  gradual  unfolding  or  opening 
of  the  angle  at  D,  so  that  extension  may  be  more  easily  accomplished. 

Reference  is  again  made  to  Fig.  20,  which  gave  the  resultant  ele- 
vation of  the  foot  due  to  high  action  and  a  sudden  unfolding  of  knee 
flexion  in  the  curve  A  C,  and  the  resultant  greater  extension  due  to  a 
lower  action  and  a  more  gradual  unfolding  of  knee  flexion  in  the 
curve  A  B. 

The  direct  effect  of  toe-weight  is  in  throwing  forward  the  foot  at 
the  last  part  of  the  unfolding  of  fore  legs,  thereby  increasing  its  ex- 
tension. Mere  weight  of  the  front  shoe  induces  greater  flexion  and 
somewhat  greater  elevation  of  knee.  Much  depends  on  the  trotter's 
natural  action  in  front,  whether  it  be  rapid  or  sweeping;  and,  again, 
much  depends  on  the  action  of  the  hind  legs  and  their  direct  influence 
on  the  fore.  When  a  horse  is  naturally  low  gaited  in  front  and  has  the 
additional  vicious  attitude  of  hind  feet  pointing  forward,  the  problem 
of  interference  and  of  consequent  balance  is  indeed  a  very  hard  one  to 
solve. 

While  we  cannot  always  separate  the  extremities  in  order  to  avoid 
interference  and  with  safety  to  the  animal,  the  work  should  not,  if 
possible,  confine  itself  to  an  effort  for  mere  extension  in  front,  but  also 
for  more  backward  action  behind.  And,  furthermore,  an  increased 
elevation  of  hind  action  will  also  have  its  telling  effect  on  the  low 
action  in  front.  This  inability  of  "getting  away"  in  front  is  one  of  the 
hardest  problems  of  training  and  shoeing.  Toe-weights  will  be  ef- 
fective to  a  degree,  but  the  fault  will  be  more  or  less  of  a  bar  to  great 
speed.  Very  often  this  fault  is  due  to  an  unequal  extension  of  feet,  and 


204 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


this  may  be  corrected  if  we  can  afford,  by  time  and  patience  and  slower 
speed,  to  carry  out  this  correction.  When  investigating  the  gait  of 
"Lou  Dillon"  we  found  a  peculiar  crossing  over  of  fore  legs.  In  a 
lesser  degree  this  has  been  observed  in  other  trotters ;  and  although 
such  a  way  of  going  appears  freakish,  there  seems  to  be  good  reason  for 
not  disparaging  that  kind  of  locomotion.  Aside  from  the  absence  of 
interference  with  the  hind  feet,  no  matter  how  far  the  latter  reach 
forward,  the  fore  feet  seem  to  display  a  greater  power  for  propulsion 
by  their  contact  with  the  ground  on  opposite  sides,  as  shown  in  Fig. 
157.  The  feet  that  move  together  are  on  either  side  of  that  speedy 
mare  and  the  shaded  portions  of  the  feet  indicate  the  part  of  the  foot 
that  gives  the  impetus.  Instead  of  its  being  the  point  of  the  front  toe, 


t\ 

o    n 


Of 


of 


A  A- 

n  h          oh 
FIGJ57 


where  the  leverage  is  often  fatiguing,  the  outside  toe  effects  the  pro- 
pulsion and  does  it  more  readily  because  of  the  smaller  leverage.  Be- 
hind the  propulsion  is  effected  by  the  full  to.e.  Again,  the  slight  sway 
of  the  body  from  side  to  side  gives  additional  momentum  to  the  motion 
of  the  horse.  It  is  really  a  combination  of  the  diagonal  propulsion  of 
the  trot  with  the  lateral  propulsion  of  the  pace.  The  picture  of 
Cresceus  2  102^  and  his  peculiar  attitude  always  suggested  to  my  mind 
a  similar  mode  of  locomotion. 

A  picture  of  Sweet  Marie  2  :O2  at  speed  is  given  in  Fig.  I57a,  and 
even  here  it  becomes  apparent  that  such  crossing  over  of  the  fore  feet 
is  very  likely  a  feature  of  her  gait.  The  photograph  at  least  seems  to 
disclose  such  a  fact.  I  have  always  regretted  having 'been  unable  to 
investigate  her  gait,  but  distance  and  business  forbade  my  doing  so.  . 


• 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  205 

But  not  all  trotters  have  recourse  to  such  an  expedient  to  remove 
their  forelegs  out  of  the  path  of  an  active  pair  of  hind  legs,  much  to 
the  sorrow  of  the  trainer ;  and  hence  there  will  always  be  more  or  less 
trouble  in  the  balancing  of  those  horses  that  have  indifferent  action  in 
front. 

Roberge's  general  rules  for  extending  the  reach  of  a  foot  by 
lowering  its  angle  and  checking  it  by  increasing  the  angle  of  the  foot 
are  primarily  true  of  the  bare  foot,  or  of  the  foot  shod  with  a  plain 
shoe,  but  under  certain  conditions  these  rules  require  some  modifica- 
tions. Much  as  I  am  against  the  use  of  shoes  of  unequal  weight  or  of 
unequal  shape,  or  of  any  inequality  of  length  of  toe  and  angle  be- 
tween the  fore  or  between  the  hind,  there  are  many  cases  where  a 
regular  gait  and  the  best  speed  are  effected  in  making  just  such  differ- 
ences. Combinations  of  various  weights  and  shapes  of  shoes,  as  well 
as  of  various  angles  and  length  of  toe,  are  obviously  great  in  num-. 
ber;  but  the  main  object  of  all  such  combinations  must  remain  that  the 
distances  of  the  two  pairs  of  correlated  feet  should  be  at  all  times  the 
same.  Only  when  such  distances  are  the  same  can  we  expect  an  even, 
faultless  gait.  We  cannot  always  equalize  the  extensions,  and  if  these 
differences  are  slight  no  danger  springs  from  them.  We  have  already 
noticed  how  a  horse  may  be  benefited  by  an  increased  extension  of 
the  near  fore  and  off  hind  when  taking  the  turns;  in  fact,  the  diffi- 
culty of  getting  around  the  turn  is  mostly  due  to  the  increased  ex- 
tension of  the  other  pair  of  feet;  but  even  when  the  above  favorable 
extension  occurs  in  a  horse  to  excess,  the  probability  of  a  good  gait 
on  the  stretch  is  also  in  question. 

My  experiments  were  .made  mostly  with  the  object  in  view  of 
keeping  the  distances  of  correlated  feet  alike  and  of  holding  any  one 
excessive  extension  as  being  a  menace  to  the  safety  and  soundness  of 
the  horse.  In  the  trials  of  animals  owned  by  me  I  allowed  myself  a 
little  more  liberty  of  ascertaining  the  effects  of  various  conditions  im- 
posed for  that  purpose.  It  is,  however,  not  my  advice  to  the  reader  to 
try  indiscriminately  the  shoeings  noted  down,  but  rather  to  make 
changes  only  when  called  for  by  the  analysis  of  the  gait,  and  to  do  so 
gradually.  Much  of  the  necessary  change  may  be  temporary  only,  and 


206  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

if  there  is  a  permanent  inequality  necessary  there  must  be  also  a  per- 
manent structural  fault  somewhere.  The  two  front  and  the  two  hind 
feet  may  not  always  be  alike  either  in  size  or  in  growth  of  toe  or  heel, 
so  that  after  three  weeks  from  the  date  of  shoeing  the  horse  may  again 
be  out  of  balance ;  or,  on  the  other  hand,  it  may  be  just  this  inequality 
in  toe  length  and  angle  that  may  cause  a  better  way  of  going  at  the 
end  of  those  three  weeks.  Hence  arises  the  advisability  of  accurately 
observing  the  actual  conditions,  small  in  difference  as  they  may  seem, 
of  the  four  feet  at  such  a  period  of  apparent  balance. 

While,  therefore,  it  may  be  said  that  more  weight  on  front  feet 
increases  the  action  rather  than  the  extensions  of  same,  when  both 
feet  and  shoes  are  alike,  any  inequality  in  length  of  toe  or  in  angle  or 
in  shape  of  foot  may  have  a  different  effect,  as  seen  in  other  experi- 
ments. Besides,  there  is  always  the  influence  of  the  hind  extension 
on  the  fore  which  may  induce  the  fore  to  respond  to  it,  so  that  the  fore 
cannot  be  said  to  act  or  extend  quite  independently  and  vice  versa,  the 
increased  activity  or  extension  of  one  fore  leg  influences  the  diagonal 
or  correlated  hind  leg  in  its  movements  and  extensions.  This  inter- 
relation of  the  feet  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  points  of  balance  to 
adjust,  and  will  always  have  to  be  taken  into  account  when  trying  to 
regulate  the  movements  of  one  particular  leg.  We  cannot  always  say 
that  one  correction  will  influence  just  one  particular  foot,  because  it 
generally  reflects  on  the  action  of  the  correlated  foot  as  well.  Having 
the  weight  and  shape  of  shoes  under  consideration,  I  shall  now  en- 
deavor to  show  the  effect  of  unequal  weight  in  front  and  also  that  of 
the  squared  toe.  However  difficult  it  may  appear  to  understand  this 
relation  between  the  fore  and  hind,  the  effect  is  readily  seen  in  the 
results  of  shoeings  such  as  here  given. 

A  gelding  by  Nutwood  Wilkes  will  serve  as  a  subject  for  unequal 
weights,  angles  and  toes.  The  peculiarities  of  his  gait  were  the  ex- 
cessive extensions  of  near  fore  and  off  hind.  The  near  fore  was  dished 
at  toe  and  would  naturally  point  forward,  and  the  off  hind  was  in  con- 
sequence interfering  with  off  fore  and  got  into  the  habit  of  going  in 
between  the  paths  of  the  two  fore  feet,  or  inside  of  off  fore. 

Fig.  158  gives  a  shoeing  intended  to  correct  these  tendencies  of 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


207 


excessive  extension.  The  result  of  the  extensions  is  quite  unsatisfac- 
tory, because  it  shows  the  pacing  or  single-foot  habit  of  extensions. 
The  fore  were  corrected  by  a  heavier  shoe  and  greater  angle  on  the 
near  fore,  increasing  the  action  and  elevation  of  near  fore  and  de- 


roll 


2istnf-oh  =  3M  ft . 
I>ist.  of-nTi  =  J.f  6  ft~ . 
c/iff  =  ^38  ft . 

or  -4:56  in. 

average  dist .  -  3.65  ft . 
stride  =  IZ.5  ft 

creasing  its  extension  in  spite  of  the  off  hind  being  still  more  extended 
than  near  hind. 

The  square  toe  of  the  right  fore,  in  this  instance,  facilitates  the 
leverage  at  toe  and  the  lower  angle  favors  a  better  extension.  The 
variations  from  general  average  stride  show  the  off  fore  to  be  the  freer 


208  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

and  more  active  leg,  because  their  scope  is  greater  than  that  of  the  near 
fore.  Behind,  the  off  foot  was  not  fully  corrected  by  either  lighter 
shoe,  greater  angle  or  longer  and  more  swelled  heel,  for  it  still  retained 
its  extension  over  that  of  the  near  hind.  Because  of  this  persistent 
habit  behind,  the  gait  was  not  fully  satisfactory  and  correct.  About 
the  longer  heel  behind  we  shall  later  have  more  to  investigate,  but  it 
may  be  mentioned  that  most  experiments  showed  that  longer  hind 
heels  (compared  with  the  heels  of  opposite  hind  foot)  will  strike 
ground  sooner,  and  the  foot,  to  avoid  a  shock,  will  be  carried  to  a 
greater  forward  extension.  With  merely  thicker  heels  this  seems  not 
to  take  place,  but  the  backward  reach  is  rather  facilitated  thereby  and 
the  extension  lessened. 

In  Fig.  159  we  have  such  a  correction  for  the  hind,  but  the  near 
fore  is  again  too  active.  This  is  due  to  lowering  the  heel  from  53°  to 
50°  and  squaring  toe.  There  is  no  doubt  but  what  the  squared  toe  of 
the  shoe  will  bring  about  a  readier  action  than  the  ordinary  round 
toe,  and  it  is  this  quickened  action  which,  when  properly  directed  by 
weight  and  angle,  can  be  a  great  benefit  to  the  horse.  Squared  toes, 
in  general,  tend  rather  toward  greater  elevation  of  action,  other  condi- 
tions being  equal. 

In  Fig.  159  the  squared  toes  on  fore  had  not  the  desired  effect  on 
the  gait  of  this  horse,  because  he  was  naturally  rapid  gaited  and  pos- 
sessed little  of  that  desirable  forward  reach  of  the  front  legs  that 
counts  in  speed.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  average  distance  of  cor- 
related feet  is  less  (3.32  ft.)  than  it  was  in  Fig.  158  (3.65  ft.),  show- 
ing the  effect  of  squared  toes  in  front.  Hind  toes  were  about  %  inch 
shorter  than  front  toes  to  check  in  a  measure  the  forward  extension 
of  hind,  which  was  his  great  fault.  The  off  hind,  though  restrained 
by  thicker  heel  and  greater  angle,  and  set  back  by  easier  action  of  near 
hind  due  to  squared  toe,  was  still  in  evidence  as  a  "pointer ;"  but  even 
then  its  natural  relation  with  the  near  fore  did  not  make  it  extend  ex- 
cessively. This  shows  the  effective  way  of  shoeing  behind  in  this  case. 
The  greater  weight  on  near  fore  does  not  show  the  effect  of  less  ex- 
tension, because  of  the  peculiar  formation  of  that  foot,  it  being  dished 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


209 


at  toe  and  prone  to  point  forward,  unless  kept  at  a  much  steeper 
angle,  as  in  Fig.  158. 

Let  us  follow  the  shoeings  of  this  gelding  in  their  various  appli- 
cations. Three  weeks  later  we  have  the  shoeing  of  Fig.  160.  Leav- 
ing off  the  extra  weight  from  near  fore  and  increasing  the  angle,  as 
well  as  swelling  the  heel  of  that  shoe,  did  not  improve  or  rather  check 


SO9 


fl 

so9 


Extensions  :\ 


nh 
oh 


Extensions  : 


FIG.  1 59 


Dish  nf -oh-  3.43ft 
Disr.of-vh  =  ' '3. lift 

DffF.  .  - 
i       or  2.. 64  in 
Aueraye  di$t  -  3.32ft 
stride,    ~  _  14.11  ft 


Disr.nf-oh-3.35ft 
Dish  of -nh  -325ft.  r 
diff.       =       ./oft,  \ 
or  /.  2  in 

Average  d/st.~  3.33 Pt. 
Stride     =     14.05 ft 


near  fore 

FIG.  1 60. 


2.64 

in. 


n 


its  extension,  but  did  increase  it.  The  off  hind  also  shows  increased 
extension  due  no  doubt  to  a  lower  angle  (54°-53°).  In  this  case  the 
round  toe  of  near  fore  has  the  advantage  over  the  square  toe  of  off 
fore,  and  the  extension  of  same  is  also  increased  by  the  difference  in 
the  roll  of  shoe,  the  near  fore  having  a  quicker  or  forward  roll  from 
heel  to  toe,  while  the  off  fore  has  an  equally  divided  roll  from  middle  to 


2io     .       Gait  of  the  American  l  rotter  and  Pacer 


both  heel  and  toe.  Besides,  its  greater  extension  draws  with  it  the  off 
hind  in  this  case.  In  this  shoeing  the  feet  with  the  square  toes  follow 
behind  those  with  the  round  toes.  We  shall  refer  to  this  again  in 
other  cases. 

In  the  shoeing  of  Fig.  161  the  squared  toes  were  reversed;  that 
is  to  say,  the  other  pair  of  correlated  feet  were  so  shod.    The  result 


77  h 

oh 


Extensions  : 


FIG. 1 61. 


Listof-nh  «  3.52ft. 
Distnf'Oh  =  3.20ft. 
diff.  =  .32ft, 

or  3. 84 in, 
Autrag*  clist.  -  3.36 //. 


shows  a  decreased  extension  of  the  squared  near  fore  and  a  somewhat 
increased  extension  of  the  squared  hind.  We  should,  however,  take 
into  consideration  the  lesser  angle  of  off  hind  foot,  which  difference 
would  in  itself  tend  toward  a  greater  forward  extension.  We  can 
notice  the  effect  of  weight  on  near  fore  and  also  the  direct  effect  of 
squared  toe,  but  behind  this  is  not  so  evident.  The  off  hind  was  always 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  2 1 1 

the  most  active  foot  and  the  square  toe,  together  with  the  consequent 
higher  action  caused  by  same,  and  the  influence  of  the  higher  elevation 
of  its  correlated  near  fore,  increased  the  greater  extension  of  the  off 
hind.  It  is  noteworthy  that  the  effect  of  near  fore  on  off  hind  is 
neither  in  this  nor  in  the  previous  shoeing  as  great  or  at  all  as  visible 
as  was  the  effect  on  the  fore  by  the  hind,  as  illustrated  in  previous 
shoeings. 


B. — LONGER  HEELS  ON  HIND  SHOES  WITH  AND  WITHOUT  SQUARED 

TOES. 

The  squaring  of  the  toe  of  the  shoe,  other  things  being  equal,  has 
the  effect  of  a  readier  leverage  at  the  toe  and  a  shorter  time-contact 
with  the  ground ;  and  it  makes  the  foot  more  responsive  to  the  influ- 
ence of  weight  and  of  angle  of  toe.  If  one  foot  only  is  squared  at 
either  or  both  extremities,  its  elevation  will  be  increased  and  its  ex- 
tension will  be,  as  a  rule,  somewhat  checked,  much  depending  on  the 
difference  of  angle,  of  weight  of  the  shoe  and  of  length  of  toe,  as  com- 
pared  with  the  other  foot. 

In  all  of  these  experiments  erroneous  corrections  are  bound  to 
appear  as  judged  by  a  better  or  worse  extension  -of  correlated  feet. 
The  combinations  possible  to  make  are  very  numerous,  and  therefore 
are  apt  to  lead  to  error  unless  the  results  are  critically  compared. 
After  eliminating  the  error  so  made,  there  will  still  be  ample  facts  left 
to  establish  certain  general  deductions  and  rules  which,  when  care- 
fully applied,  will  yield  the  corrections  for  a  defective  gait. 

Squaring  the  toes  of  correlated  feet  has  often  led  to  the  straight- 
ening out  of  equine  locomotion.  Another  direct  effect  on  hind  ex- 
tension is  brought  about  by  comparatively  longer  heels  of  shoe  on  one 
hind  foot  only ;  and  such  effect  will  also  be  shown  in  some  of  the  ex- 
periments offered  here. 

Fig.  162  gives  a  modification  of  the  shoeings  of  Fig.  160  and  Fig. 
161,  principally  in  regard  to  weight  and  angle.  A  comparatively  longer 
heel  on  near  hind  proves  to  have  the  effect  in  this  case,  as  well  as  in 
others,  to  increase  forward  extension.  We  shall  for  the  present  deal 


212 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


with  the  longer  heel  in  conjunction  with  a  round  toe.  The  longer  heel 
does  not  come  under  Roberge's  rules  of  pointing  apparently,  for  these 
refer  only  to  a  high  and  a  low  heel.  A  long  heel  is  especially  effective 
with  a  lower  angle  as  compared  with  the  opposite  foot,  as  shown  in 
Fig.  162. 


,  - 

Swelled  heels 


t flicker  wtb 
longer  heef-s 


Extensions  ' 


F/0./62. 

Dist. nF- oh  »  3.61  Ft. 
Dish  of -nh  =  3. +3  ft. 
JD/ff.  =  .18  ft. 
or  2.16  in. 

Average  olist.  »  3.53  ft . 

Stride.       =       /i.8  //. 


,     n h  heels  /onqer 
Jbut  toe  fu//.    ' 

Extensions  : 


1.6  8  in 


Dist  of-nh  =  J.5S  ft. 

£/S/-.??f-o/>=    3.4-f    ft 

£>iff.        =        TM-  ft. 

£>r   /.68  in 
Average  dist.    -    3.4-8 


It  has  always  seemed  to  me  that  such  forward  extension  is  caused 
by,  a  lessened  elevation,  as  well  as  by  a  greater  "ground  surface,"  as 
the  shoer  calls  it.  I  do  not  quite  share  this  view  of  the  longer  sur- 
face causing  an  increase  of  extension  by  itself,  though  it  may  add  its 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  2 1 3 

mite  in  that  direction.  It  seems  more  rational  to  explain  the  cause  of 
such  greater  extension  by  the  endeavor  of  the  animal  to  avoid  a  shock 
such  as  a  long  heel  will  in  a  measure  produce,  and  to  equalize  the 
touch  of  heels  on  ground  by  reaching  out  farther  with  the  'foot  which 
carries  the  longer  heels  ;  especially  if  its  angle  is  lower. 

In  Fig.  162  the  lower  hind  angle  (52°)  and  the  heavier  weight  (9 
oz.)  lend  their  assistance  toward  a  forward  extension ;  and,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  greater  angle  (54°)  or  higher  heel  with  the  lighter  weight 
(7  oz.)  tend  to  retard  the  extension  of  the  opposite  or  off  foot.  The 
square  toe  in  this  case  tends  to  elevate  the  action,  while  the  round  toe 
tends  to  lessen  the  elevation.  In  front  we  have  again  the  near  fore 
restrained  in  extension  by  greater  weight  and  angle,  even  though  the 
off  fore  has  a  squared  toe.  In  both  these  front  extensions  there  is 
again  visible  the  influence  of  the  hind  action,  the  off  hind  still  further 
restraining  the  near  fore  and  near  hind  giving  impetus  or  activity  to 
the  off  fore. 

Continuing  with  the  same  subject  we  have  the  conditions  of  the 
shoeing  of  Fig.  163,  which  are  practically  the  same  as  in  Fig.  162,  ex- 
cept for  the  shorter  toes  of  fore  and  of  hind  and  more  particularly, 
the  difference  in  angles  between  fore  and  between  hind  of  both  shoe- 
ings.  This  difference  in  angles  stops  the  extensions  of  both  right  fore 
and  left  hind  and  gives  the  active  right  hind  a  chance  to  assert  its 
habit  of  forward  extension,  as  in  Fig.  161,  but  in  a  much  smaller 
degree. 

Weight  restrains  the  left  fore  and  helps  the  left  hind  (Fig.  163). 
The  shoes  of  right  fore  and  left  hind  being  set  full,  the  extension  is 
also  helped  thereby.  In  the  variations  from  average  stride  both  fore 
were  nearly  alike  in  steadiness,  and  the  left  hind  was  much  the  stead- 
ier of  the  two  hind.  The  shoe  of  the  right  hind  had  the  heels  a  trifle 
thicker  than  the  left  hind  and  this  may  also  have  caused  a  quicker 
break-over  at  toe.  The  difference  in  hind  extensions,  however,  was 
considerably  less.  At  any  rate,  the  variations  from  average  stride 
were  too  great  in  extent  to  endorse  this  shoeing  as  correct,  and  the 
trial  showed  it  somewhat.  Let  us  pass  on  to  another  shoeing  in  Fig. 
164.  The  main  point  here  is  the  difference  in  toe-lengths  of  hind 


214  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

feet,  and  the  forward  extension  of  off  hind  with  its  squared  toe  is  so 
excessive  that  it  is  well  worth  noting  as  compared  with  the  near  hind 
with  the  shorter  foot  and  longer  heels  on  the  shoe.  Here,  again,  the 
longer  foot  of  the  off  hind  is  more  effective  in  greater  forward  exten- 
sion. Incidentally,  I  may  remark  that  certain  manipulations  or  changes, 
such  as  a  squared  toe  or  a  longer  heel,  do  not  always  work  out  the  ex- 
pected improvement  or  pre-conceived  plan  of  correction  because  cer- 
tain auxiliary  conditions  are  not  always  the  same  in  the  opposite  or  diag- 
onal foot.  That  is  very  often  the  reason  why  the  effect  is  contrary 
to  expectation  at  times. 

Here  (Fig.  164)  we  have  intentionally  lengthened  the  right  hind 
foot,  squared  the  toe  and  swelled  the  heels  a  little  more  than  those  of 
left  hind,  and  we  have  also  given  the  left  hind  shoe  longer  heels  and 
a  round  toe.  We  have,  therefore,  increased  the  breakover  of  the  right 
hind  and  made  it  more  difficult  for  the  left  hind.  Again,  we  have 
raised  the  heels  of  the  left  fore  slightly,  and  though  somewhat  influ- 
enced by  its  diagonal  mate,  the  right  hind,  it  shows  no  excessive  ex- 
tension in  consequence.  The  speed  of  the  horse  was  greater,  as  the 
stride  will  show,  and  the  variations  of  the  movements  of  the  legs  from 
the  average  stride  were  less  in  extent  but  similar  in  manner,  showing 
the  steadier  movements  to  be  with  the  right  fore  and  the  left  hind. 
The  gait  may  be  said  to  have  been  spoiled  by  the  over-active  and  un- 
steady right  hind  leg. 

On  the  whole  the  result  shows  that  the  adjustment  of  the  near 
hind  did  not  counteract  the  tendency  of  the  off  hind  to  reach  forward. 
The  effect  of  the  squared  toe  of  the  latter  was  towards  a  higher  ac- 
tion, which  again  was  converted  into  a  greater  forward  extension 
partly  by  a  longer  foot  (3^  in.)  and  partly  by  a  confirmed  habit. 
The  greater  weight  and  longer  heels  of  the  near  hind  shoe  did  not,, 
therefore,  in  this  instance  check  or  offset  the  activity  of  the  off  hind 
leg. 

A  similar  instance  of  habitual  extension  with  one  hind  leg  we 
saw  in  a  gelding  whose  shoeings  were  described  in  Figs.  137-144, 
some  of  the  shoeings  omitted  there  being  now  given  to  show  similar 
effects  of  a  squared  toe  with  a  longer  foot  and  with  longer  heels,  as 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  2 1 5 

with  the  subject  here  discussed.     It  will  be  remembered  that  this 

gelding's  off  hind  foot  had  a  short  forward  extension  and  that  weight, 

angle  and  length  of  foot  finally  brought  about  an  improvement  of  gait. 

The  omitted  shoeings  now  given  will  further  illustrate  the  effect 

F/G.164-. 

3^- in. 
foe,  1(3 

51° 


Extensions : 


.36, 77. 


6.12m 


or  S.I 6  /n. 
Average        •-          3.58ft. 
Stride,       =         J+.3I  ft . 

of  squared  toes,  longer  heels,  longer  foot  and  various  angles.  Before 
arriving  at  the  effective  shoeings  of  Fig.  142-143  these  shoeings  were 
tried  in  the  endeavor  to  eliminate  the  hop  or  rough  gait  of  hind  legs. 
Though  erroneous  as  a  remedy  they  will  nevertheless  illustrate  the 
points  now  under  consideration. 


2l6 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


In  Fig.  165  appear  two  squared  hind  toes,  the  near  shoe  having 
the  longer  heels  and  both  having  calks.  The  activity  and  extension  of 
the  free  near  hind  leg  is  intensified  by  the  calks  and  the  longer  heels 
and  the  distance  between  extremities  (2.56  ft.)  is  too  small  for  the 
length  and  height  of  the  animal.  The  gait  was  very  faulty. 

F/G./66 


JS' 


nh 
oh 


Extensions  ;' 


/,/*//? 


Dish  7?  f-  oh 


.  of-nh  =  2.27  ft  . 


2.S6&. 

15.95ft. 


2  iff.      = 

or  6.84- in 
Average 


Swelled  heels 


Dish,  nf-  oh-  3.S&fi< 
Dish  of-nh 

Diff        -     ..    - 
or  3.  36  'n. 


.Average 
-Stride 


Fig.  166  is  another  shoeing  with  near  hind  squared  at  toe  and 
with  greater  length  of  toe  (3^  +  )  and  height  of  heel  (55°)  than 
those  of  off  hind  (3^  in.  and  54°).  Hence  near  hind  was  really  the 
longer  leg  and,  with  an  easy  leverage  at  the  toe,  was  therefore  more 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  2 1 7 

readily  extended  forward.  The  swelled  heels  on  both  hind,  how- 
ever, tended  to  increase  the  distance  between  extremities  (3.44  ft.). 
An  intermediate  effect  of  squared  toe  on  near  hind,  as  compared 
with  the  two  previous  results,  occurs  in  Fig.  167.  Here  the  squared  toe 
checks  the  former  greater  extension  of  near  hind  with  reference  to  the 
equally  long  off  hind.  The  distance  between  the  extremities  (2,96  ft.) 

FIO.I67. 

I  -^  in  >^— 
ibe(C/2 


Extensions: 


'Distnf-  oh  =  2.98ft. 

D/sf.  oF-nh*  2.93  />. 
D/ff      =  .OS  ft; 

or  .6  in  •. 

Average    =  2.96  Ft.\ 
Shricte,     = 


is  greater  than  in  Fig.  165  (2.56),  but  still  less  than  in  Fig.  166  (3.44). 
In  Fig.  I43-A  this  distance  was  also  relatively  small  (2.88  ft.),  but 
in  Fig.  I43-B  it  is  increased  to  3.59  ft.,  and  the  whole  question  of  sep- 
arating the  extremities  reasonably  to  insure  a  free  open  reach  in  front 
hinged  on  the  easier  forward  extension  of  the  left  fore  leg.  Not  only 
was  this  effected  by  the  increased  extension  of  off  hind,  as  in  Fig. 
I43-B,  but  also  by  the  longer  toe  and  lower  heel  (50°)  of  that  neas 


218  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

fore  foot ;  and  though  subsequently  in  Fig.  142  (one  month  later)  the 
final  greater  extension  of  the  near  fore  and  off  hind,  as  effected  there 
by  angles  and  toe-lengths,  was  somewhat  excessive,  it  was  more  in 
line  with  the  requisite  extensions  for  the  turns  of  the  track.  It  proved 
to  produce  a  good  regular  trot. 

Again  referring  to  Figs.  145  and  146,  we  notice  the  extension  of 
the  off  hind  foot  with  the  squared  toe,  and  compared  with  the  exten- 
sions of  the  previous  shoeing  of  that  gelding  this  squared  toe  checked 
the  excessive  previous  extension  which  showed  the  remarkably  faulty 
difference  of  10.92  inches — the  distance  the  off  hind  was  carried  ahead 
of  near  hind.  This  facilitated  the  movements  of  the  near  fore,  which 
leg  had  a  bad  tendon.  Checking  the  extension  and  increasing  the 
elevation  of  the  off  hind  by  the  squared  toe  and  greater  angle  checks 
the  near  fore  in  a  measure  and  the  near  hind  of  that  gelding  being 
also  affected  in  the  hock,  we  have  the  strange  phenomenon  of  exces- 
sive extensions  on  the  off  side.  Such  a  twist,  one  might  say,  to  the 
movements  of  the  legs  cannot  at  any  time  augur  any  good,  and  it  is 
wise  to  either  discontinue  training  or  devise  more  effective  and  yet 
safe  means  to  bring  the  extensions  into  harmony  and  let  at  least  the 
distance  between  the  correlated  feet  be  approximately  the  same. 

Reference  is  here  made  to  a  series  of  previous  illustrations  under 
Figs.  96,  99,  106,  109,  in  and  113,  in  which  the  off  hind  carries  a 
shoe  with  longer  heels.  In  both  96  and  99  the  hind  shoes  remained 
the  same,  the  shoeing  of  96  following  in  reality  that  of  99.  As  the 
hind  shoes  were  made  and  fitted  by  another  shoer  the  accuracy  of 
data  given  can  not  quite  be  depended  on.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
tendency  at  previous  trials  was  a  greater  or  excessive  extension  of  the 
opposite  or  near  hind  leg,  so  that  this  habit  may  have  remained  for 
some  time  after.  Such  a  remnant  of  previous  conditions  always  pre- 
sents a  disturbing  element  in  subsequent  shoeings.  At  any  rate,  the 
longer  heels  on  off  hind  did  not  materially  increase  the  extension  of 
that  leg,  but  in  the  subsequent  shoeings,  as  illustrated  in  the  remain- 
ing figures  above  alluded  to,  there  appears  a  more  decided  influence 
of  these  long  heels  on  the  off  hind  shoe,  namely,  they  increase,  as  a 
rule,  the  extension.  Besides,  the  application  of  the  so-called  Memphis 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


219 


shoe  in  front,  with  its  two  bars  straight  across  the  shoe,  was  in  itself 
a  mistake  for  that  subject,  because  it  increased  the  elevation  of  the 
front  action,  which  was  naturally  rather  high.  Elsewhere  I  have 
tried  to  show  that  excessive  front  elevation  is  likely  to  produce  a  low 
and  more  direct  forward  action  of  the  hind  feet  in  which  any  greater 
weight  on  the  hind  shoes  will  show  by  greater  extension.  In  the 

Comparative.  o.FFe.cts 


3.61  ft- fiver  olish-  3.86  fr 
16  J I  ft  -    Stride,  -   /SJiff 

shoeings  of  Figs.  96  and  99  this  effect  can  be  noticed  and  will  explain 
again  the  reaching  forward  of  the  near  hind  foot. 

In  this  connection  let  us  compare  the  shoeings  of  Fig.  96  and  of 
Fig.  106,  the  latter  being,  however,  without  toe-weights,  and  a  sep- 
arate trial.  The  first  half  of  Fig.  107  gives  its  results.  I  shall  place 
them  alongside  of  each  other  in  Fig.  168  for  a  better  survey  of  the 
matter  in  hand.  The  comparison  is  apt  because  the  stride  in  each 


22O  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

trial  was  about  the  same  (16.11  ft.  and  16.12  ft).  With  the  Mem- 
phis shoes  and  even  angles  at  both  extremities  and  the  front  toes  l/$ 
in.  shorter  than  hind  toes  we  have  an  average  distance  between  the 
extremities  of  3.61  ft.,  while  with  the  modified  shoe  of  only  one 
crossbar  near  front  toes,  and  with  all  feet  at  3  in.  toe-length,  we  have 
the  same  distance  at  3.86  ft.  The  difference  or  the  greater  separation 
being,  therefore,  25  ft.  or  3  in.  in  the  latter  trial.  Incidentally,  I  may 
remark  that  the  Memphis  shoe  is  not  to  be  rejected  because  it  did  not 
suit  this  high-gaited  mare.  Other  horses  may  be  greatly  benefited  by 
it;  but  there  is  one  objection  to  the  shoe  in  any  case  and.  that  is  the 
difficulty  to  make  it  and  the  bending  of  the  bars  upward  against  the 
-ole  of  the  foot. 

The  difference  of  time  between  the  trials  was  about  35  days.  The 
principal  change  of  extension  is  no  doubt  due  to  the  change  of  front 
shoes  and  the  shifting  from  off  to  near  side  in  pointing  forward  with 
fore  is  due  to  the  difference  of  angles  and  weights,  the  light  shoe 
with  lower  angle  preceding  the  heavier  shoe  with  greater  angle.  The 
pointing  of  the  fore  influenced  the  hind  action  to  some  degree,  so  that 
near  hind  was  set  (back  thereby ;  but  the  difference  between  hind  ex- 
tensions is  but  very  slight  (0.24  in.),  and  surely  far  less  than  it  might 
have  been  if  the  increased  weight  and  the  full  toe  on  near  hind 
had  been  left  out.  As  it  is,  and  in  spite  of  such  conditions,  the  effect 
of  longer  heels  on  off  hind  is  visible,  even  though  part  of  its  exten- 
sion is  due  to  the  influence  of  the  near  fore,  or  its  diagonal  and  corre- 
lated mate. 

The  remaining  trials  under  Figs.  109,  in  and  113  followed  that 
of  Fig.  106,  without  toe-weights,  where  the  extensions  were  given  un- 
der Fig.  107.  Coming  under  the  head  of  "toe-weights"  they  were 
.shown  in  order  to  understand  the  peculiarities  of  the  subject  used. 
We  shall  now  recall  the  results  with  a  view  to  analyzing  the  effects, 
especially  the  effect  of  the  longer  heels  on  off  hind  shoe.  These  three 
shoeings  differ  from  Fig.  106  principally  by  the  lower  angle  or  heels 
of  front  feet  and  lighter  weight  of  hind  shoes.  For  easier  compari- 
son the  shoeings  are  grouped  again  in  Fig.  169  and  their  extensions 
in  Fig.  170. 


Experiments  and  their  Verification 


221 


In  speaking  of  these  shoeings  in  the  paragraph  on  toe-weights 
mention  was  made  of  the  various  effects  produced  by  certain  condi- 
tions. The  best  gait  and  the  best  speed  were  found  to  exist  under 
conditions  of  B  in  both  of  these  figures,  and  this  was  caused  mainly 
by  the  greater  length  and  reach  of  right  hind  leg.  In  this  result  the 


FIG  169 


1.25'm. 


Aver.  =  4.36  K 
Stride  =  18.24- ft. 


Aver.---4-.l3ft. 
Stride  ~  15.83  Ft . 

FIG .170 


Aver.  =  3.90  fir. 
6/r/afe  •/£&//., 


longer  heels  of  shoe  played  a  good  part,  but  at  the  time  of  the  trials 
it  was  still  puzzling  to  me  how  to  stop  the  uneven  extension  behind. 
The  weight  on  near  hind  was  meant  to  increase  extension,  but  at 
the  same  time  the  longer  heels  on  off  hind  were  supposed  to  check 
extension.  Later  investigations  proved  the  latter  idea  to  be  an  error, 


222  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

while  the  weight  on  hind  was  correctly  placed.  Therefore,  in  the  trial 
of  B,  the  longer  off  hind  foot  and  its  longer  heels  overcame  the  weight 
and  lower  angle  of  the  near  hind  foot;  while  in  C  it  did  not  succeed 
in  doing  so  because  of  the  longer  near  fore,  which  is  checked  by  greater 
length  of  toe  and  greater  angle  as  compared  with  off  fore.  This 
check  causes  a  further  reduction  of  the  distance  between  fore  and  hind 
feet  from  4.13  ft.  to  3.90  ft.  I  may  here  remark  that  such  a  check  to 
near  fore  is  at  all  times  dangerous  and  productive  of  injuries  because, 
as  before  mentioned,  the  greater  extension  is  naturally  with  the  near 
fore  on  account  of  taking  the  turns. 

Again,  in  C  the  off  fore,  though  lifted  and  helped  by  greater 
length  of  near  fore,  does  not  extend  as  much  on  that  account  because 
of  its  greater  weight  in  shoe.  The  effect  is  therefore  greater  in  ele- 
vation, but  the  lower  angle  should  give  it  a  chance  to  extend.  All 
these  combinations,  though  somewhat  counteracting  each  other,  can 
be  said  to  have  brought  about  the  action  and  extension  of  the  off  fore. 

In  A  the  angles  of  hind  are  practically  the  same,  the  swelled  heels 
of  near  hind  making  up  for  lesser  angle  of  the  foot  proper.  With 
full  toe  of  shoe  the  extension  would  naturally  be  slightly  more;  but 
whether  swelled  heels  had  any  part  in  that  other  examples  will  make 
clear  in  a  subsequent  paragraph.  The  greater  separation  of  fore  and 
hind  is  no  doubt  due  largely  to  lighter  hind  shoes,  but  in  some 
measure  also  to  the  longer  stride  of  18.24  ft.  The  endeavor  with  the 
front  shoes  was  principally  in  the  direction  of  equalizing  the  exten- 
sion between  the  near  and  off,  counteracting  the  weight  necessary  for 
the  paddling  off  fore  by  a  lower  angle  of  that  foot. 

We  shall  consider  the  subject  whose  last  shoeing  was  given  in 
Fig.  164  and  once  more  see  the  effect  of  squared  toes. 

The  case  considered  from  Fig.  161  to  Fig.  164  inclusive  was  that 
of  a  peculiarly  and  rapidly  gaited  gelding.  There  was  a  preference 
for  a  near  fore  greater  forward  reach  or  extension — the  foot  with  a 
dished  toe  and  high  heel — due,  no  doubt,  in  part  to  the  paddling  of  off 
fore;  and,  furthermore,  there  was  an  over-reach  of  off  hind  foot 
which,  on  account  of  interference  with  off  fore,  was  placed  more  or 
less  inside  of  the  latter. 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  223 

Ordinarily,  it  is  considered  a  sign  of  a  "short  stride/'  as  it  is 
erroneously  called,  when  a  hind  foot  is  placed  between  the  two  fore 
feet;  that  is  to  say,  the  extension  of  such  a  foot  is  considered  to  be 
deficient.  In  this  case  the  reverse  was  true,  for  the  off  hind  did  actu- 
ally have  a  greater  forward  reach  or  extension  than  the  near  hind. 
Again,  I  would  like  to  point  out  the  necessity  of  exact  measurements 
and  of  the  averages  derived  therefrom,  because  on  ordinary  supposi- 
tions the  off  hind  would  have  been  considered  a  leg  with  a  "shorter 
stride"  or  of  a  lesser  extension.  The  fact  that  the  reverse  was  true 
made  the  subject  rather  a  hard  case  to  handle  and  one  not  readily 
amenable  to  correction. 

The  squared  toe  was  considered  a  remedy  in  such  cases  and  the 
few  corrective  shoeings  here  offered  did  in  a  way  show  what  could 
be  done  in  similar  cases.  The  variety  of  changes  in  this  as  well  as  in 
other  cases  may  remind  the  reader  of  the  sensible  rule  in  experiment- 
ing, namely,  to  vary  only  one  thing  at  a  time.  But  here,  as  in  other 
cases,  the  expectations  from  every  change  were  so  great  on  the  part 
of  the  persons  interested  that  the  array  of  conditions  in  the  shoeing 
seems  rather  confusing.  The  reader  being,  however,  somewhat  famil- 
iar with  the  influences  of  such  conditions,  the  main  point  at  issue — 
squared  toes — may,  therefore,  be  dwelt  upon  with  more  emphasis. 

Here,  then,  is  a  case  where  rapid  gait  and  deficient  extensions 
caused  a  great  deal  of  that  disturbing  motion  in  front  which  might  be 
called  "recovering,"  from  the  fact  that  one  leg  tries  to  make  good  what 
the  other  one  loses  in  motion ;  and,  again,  behind  we  have  in  conse- 
quence an  attempt  to  get  around  the  fore  legs  which  manifests  itself 
in  hopping  or  shifting  from  one  side  to  the  other. 

The  few  illustrations  here  offered  may  show  the  effect  of  cor- 
rective shoeing,  more  or  less,  but  the  fact  remains  that  the  horse  was 
a  very  hard  case  to  get  satisfactory  results  from.  In  Fig.  164  was 
given  a  showing  under  date  of  June  14,  and  under  Figs.  171  and  172 
are  now  given  the  successive  shoeings  of  the  trials  of  July  6  and 
August  4.  The  main  endeavor  was  to  reduce  the  extension  of  the 
near  fore  and  off  hind  to  within  reasonable  limits  by  means  of 
squared  toes  on  shoes. 


224 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


We  have  in  Fig.  171  still  a  greater  forward  reach  of  the  off  hind 
because  the  effect  of  the  squared  toe  was  partly  nullified  by  the  greater 
length  of  toe  (3J4)  than  that  of  the  near  hind  (3^),  in  spite  of  the 
latter's  greater  weight  and  lower  angle.  In  front  the  squared  toe  and 
greater  weight  of  near  shoe  restrain  somewhat  the  extension  of  near 


J/W/7.  -  too.  -JJ/e  in 


e 

-4-9* 


/n  .-  roe--^3^/6//7. 


62' 

n~h 
ol 


ol  hee/s 


hh 
,o/, 


Extensions : 


3.40ft. 


Fie.  ///. 


J)//=f.  .OS  ft. 

or  .6  inch  . 
Auer.  c//s/:  =  3.38ft. 
Stride   =    M/2//. 


F/G.I72 


fore  and  the  slightly  longer  toe  (%  in.)  with  higher  heel  of  shoe  (as 
per  section)  have  the  same  tendency  to  check  extension.  The  differ- 
ence between  the  distances  of  the  correlated  feet  gives  but  0.6  inch, 
which  is  negligible ;  so  that  the  gait  and  extension  proved  fairly  satis- 
factory. In  the  variations  from  the  average  stride  there  was  rather  a 
strong  effort  of  the  off  fore  leg  to  make  up  for  the  greater  reach  of 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  225 

near  fore ;  and  behind,  the  off  foot  with  the  squared  toe  varied  more, 
which  means  that  in  spite  of  its  greater  and  habitual  extension  the 
off  hind  was  not  the  stronger  or  more  regular  leg.  Therefore,  the 
primary  effect  of  the  squared  toes  thus  applied  to  the  pair  of  corre- 
lated legs  whose  extensions  are  excessive  (nf-oh)  would  seem  to 
show  a  restraint  or  check. 

In  the  next  change  of  Fig.  172  the  lengths  of  the  toes  in  front  are 
reversed  and  the  angle  of  off  fore  lowered  one  degree.  The  object  of 
a  longer  toe  and  lower  angle  or  heel  is  to  increase  the  pointing  for- 
ward of  off  fore ;  while  the  near  fore  not  alone  has  a  squared  toe  but 
a  heavier  shoe  with  a  slightly  thicker  web.  The  angle  of  near  fore 
is  50°  as  against  that  of  49°  of  off  fore,  and  the  front  shoes  are  both 
alike  in  shape.  In  the  previous  trial  this  difference  of  angles  was 
effected  by  the  shape  of  near  front  shoe  being  slightly  higher  or 
thicker  near  heel.  (See  Fig.  171.)  Behind  there  is  quite  a  difference 
in  toes,  the  near  hind  having  %6  inch  more  toe  length.  The  angle 
of  foot  being  the  same  on  both  hind,  the  near  may  be  considered  the 
longer  leg  on  account  of  a  longer  toe  and  a  correspondingly  higher 
heel  in  consequence.  This  fact  as  against  the  squared  toe  and  the 
shorter  foot  of  the  off  hind  brings  about  a  result  which,  though  it 
was  corrective  in  extensions,  was  somewhat  destructive  of  speed  at 
that  particular  trial,  as  the  short  stride  of  12.83  ft-  w^  illustrate.  A 
few  days  later,  however,  he  showed  good  speed  and  balance,  going  a 
quarter  easily  in  35^2  seconds.  It  seemed  as  if  the  restraint  put  upon 
the  excessive  extension  was  modified  by  the  ,growth  of  feet  so  that 
the  result  was  pretty  satisfactory;  but  in  order  to  show  his  reverting 
to  the  previous  way  of  going  the  same  conditions  at  the  next  shoeing 
were  maintained  absolutely  as  in  Fig.  172,  except  that  round  toes  in- 
stead of  squared  toes  were  used  on  the  near  fore  and  off  hind. 

The  resulting  extensions  are  given  in  Fig.  173;  and  in  order  to 
show  the  directions  of  the  four  feet  or  their  lateral  extensions  the 
actual  distances  from  the  median  line  are  given  in  Fig.  174.  Here, 
then,  it  is  seen  that  a  hind  leg  which  is  placed  between  the  two  fore 
must  not  necessarily  be  one  that  drags  or  whose  extension  is  deficient. 
In  this  case,  as  in  others,  such  a  leg  is  too  often  active  and  causes 


226 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


more  damage  and  a  more  uneven  gait  than  if  it  were  deficient  in  for- 
ward extension;  for,  while  such  deficiency  might  be  developed  and 

Conditions  near/y  She 
Same   as  in    FIG.  /72 


ir>  -  foe,  -3%  //'? 


J  7//6  in  -  foe.  - 


swelleo/  heals 
more  on  off  . 

Extensions : 


of-nh-    3JXH. 
7if-oh  =   2..8SFI. 


Exfe.ns/ons 
reduced  one 


TL                             n'F 
\W*in                    t* 

oh 

t 

1  9/,o  in 

of 

t- 

V 

t.,' 

A. 

directed  toward  the  outside,  this  inward  and  forward  activity  is  hardly 
amenable  to  treatment.     When  the  extension  is  restrained  the  better 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  227 

placing  of  off  hind  foot  is  not  helped  thereby,  and  so  it  was  and  re- 
mained a  matter  of  limited  improvement,  beyond  which  the  old  habits 
of  gait  again  asserted  themselves.  The  squaring  of  the  two  diagonal 
toes — near  fore  and  off  hind — may  be  said  to  be  the  solution  of  this 
problem.  Disturbing  elements  entered  even  into  these  shoeings  by 
faulty  lengths  of  toes  and  angles,  but  the  principle  of  the  two  squared 
toes  seemed  to  be  quite  correct.  For  instance,  the  extensions  of  near 
fore  and  off  hind  were  once  nearly  the  same  (0.78  ft.  and  0.88  ft.),  but 
there  was  an  impact  or  beat  on  ground  louder  with  the  round  toe  feet 
than  with  the  squared  toe  feet.  This  time  beating  or  rhythm  sounded 
like  the  movements  of  a  lame  horse,  and  it  was  no  doubt  due  to  the 
fact  that  the  squared  toes  had  a  higher  action  and  elevation  than  the 
feet  with  the  round  toes,  which  made  the  latter  to  reach  the  ground 
sooner  than  they  should,  causing  thereby  an  irregular  rhythm  in  the 
motion  of  the  two  pairs  of  correlated  legs.  Such  irregularity,  how- 
ever, could  be  adjusted  by  shape  of  feet  and  greater  weight  of  one 
shoe. 

Granting  that,  other  things  being  equal,  the  squared  toe  shoe  will 
cause  an  easier  and  quicker  break-over  of  the  foot  in  question,  as  well 
as  a  higher  rather  than  a  more  extended  action,  it  should  be  borne  in 
mind,  nevertheless,  that  when  between  two  fore  or  two  hind  feet  the 
conditions  are  otherwise  unequal,  such  as  a  higher  heel  or  a  heavier 
shoe  on  either  foot,  there  may  result  a  slightly  greater  extension  of 
the  foot  so  shod.  For  instance,  a  higher  heel  with  the  squared  toe 
shoe  would  diminish  the  ground  surface  or  rather  the  length  of  the 
shoe,  and  would,  therefore,  shorten  the  contact  with  the  ground  of 
that  shoe  or  that  foot  so  shod.  It  will  seem,  therefore,  that  a  foot 
shod  thus  differently  from  its  opposite  mate  will  have  greater  action 
than  that  other  opposite  mate ;  that  is  to  say,  the  action  becomes  easier 
because  of  that  easier  break-over  due  to  the  shorter  length  of  shoe  and 
foot.  Any  influence  added  to  a  foot  so  pared  and  shod  will,  therefore, 
be  more  readily  visible,  whether  it  be  the  diagonal  influence  of  a  hind 
foot  or  a  toe-weight  or  heavier  shoe  on  the  fore  foot  so  shod.  An 
illustration  to  that  effect  may  be  found  in  Fig.  175.  Here  ABC 
represent  a  foot  with  an  angle  of  perhaps  50°.  Squaring  the  toe  as 


228  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

at  E  and  increasing  the  angle  to  55°,  as  at  D,  we  have  the  foot  A  E  D 
as  against  that  of  A  B  C.  The  dotted  lines  extended  to  M  and  N  in- 
dicate the  effect  of  the  reduction  of  surface  contact  by  means  of 
the  squared  toe  and  the  higher  heel,  and  the  line  MN  shows  in  an  exag- 
gerated manner  the  evident  tendency  toward  a  shorter  ground  contact. 

Whatever  may  be  the  greater  extension  of  a  foot  so  shod,  if  any, 
it  is  primarily  true  that  the  elevation  is  greater  in  any  event.  What- 
ever time  is  gained  by  shorter  contact  with  the  ground  is  spent  in 
action.  High  heels  and  squared  toes  are  to  a  certain  degree  good 
preventives  of  strains,  and  the  combination  acts  in  a  way  like  a  rolling 
motion  shoe,  for  it  avoids  the  anchoring  of  the  toe  and  quickens  the 
leverage  from  the  heel  on  account  of  the  higher  position  of  the  lever 


at  the  heel  and  of  the  shorter  length  of  the  lever  itself  from  heel  to 
toe.  But  at  the  same  time  we  should  not  forget  that  the  horse  needs 
a  sufficiently  long  contact  with  the  ground  to  enable  him  to  use  the 
toe  effectively  in  the  effort  of  propulsion.  In  order  to  have  that  ef- 
fective leverage — neither  too  short  nor  too  long — it  will  be  necessary 
to  regulate  the  action  of  the  leg  according  to  Figs.  15  and  16,  where 
an  equal  forward  and  backward  extension  was  considered  a  primary 
condition  of.  a  gait  without  lost  motion. 

All  the  various  corrections  by  means  of  angle,  length  of  foot, 
shape  of  shoe  and  other  adjustments  must  have  this  primary  condition 
always  in  view,  and  this  condition  must  be  followed  in  each  case, 
however  different  the  remedies  for  various  faults.  For,  broadly  con- 
sidered, no  matter  how  differently  gaited  horses  are  in  their  manner 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  229 

of  going  at  the  trot  or  the  pace,  the  regularity  of  either  gait  can  only; 
be  accomplished  by  such  equal  extensions.  It  may,  therefore,  be  true, 
as  heretofore  mentioned,  that  every  remedy  does  not  apply  to  every 
horse,  yet  that  does  not  mean  that  each  horse  is  an  absolute  case  by 
itself,  but  rather  that  each  horse  has  peculiarities  and  faults  whose 
corrections  may  be  accomplished  by  always  having  in  view  this  pri- 
mary condition  of  the  equal  extensions  of  all  four  legs. 

This  condition,  however,  of  equal  extensions  also  applies  to  the 
averages  of  the  measurements  as  exemplified  in  the  various  cases  given, 
but  mainly  to  the  equal  forward  and  backward  swing  of  the  legs  or 
feet.  The  eye  must,  therefore,  decide  first  whether  the  action  has  this 
regularity  of  motion,  and  the  method  offered  to  ascertain  the  gait  as 
found  on  the  ground  must  go  hand  in  hand  with  that  judgment  of  the 
eye ;  but  by  the  calculations  of  the  -f-  and  —  variations  from  average 
stride,  as  given  on  pages  140,  159,  188  and  195,  we  can  also  determine 
if  there  is  such  an  equal  swing  of  the  leg.  My  observations  and  ex- 
periments tend  to  prove  that  these  total  positive  and  negative  varia- 
tions indicate  such  forward  and  backward  extensions ;  and  the  more 
nearly  equal  these  variations  are,  the  more  equal  will  be  the  forward 
and  backward  swings  of  that  leg.  A  study  of  the  variations  hereto- 
fore given  will  make  this  more  clear. 

The  influence  of  a  foot  trimmed  or  shod  as  given  in  Fig.  175  be- 
came evident  in  the  experiments  of  the  last  case  given.  The  com- 
bination of  a  squared  toe  and  a  high  heel  appeared  to  have  eventually 
an  accelerating  effect  and  with  that  over-active  off  hind  leg,  as  in 
the  last  case,  it  proved  to  be  not  as  effective  a  correction  as  anticipated. 

We  have  seen  that  hind  shoes  with  squared  toes  and  calks  had 
a  better  effect  to  increase  elevation  and  decrease  extension  than  per- 
haps the  squared  toes  with  swelled  heels  had,  which  no  doubt  is  due 
to  the  prompter  check  to  motion  which  calks  are  apt  to  give. 

With  the  effect  of  shoeing  under  Fig.  173  carried  over  to  the 
next  shoeing  we  have  in  Fig.  176  the  subsequent  adjustment  of  shoes 
and  the  resulting  extensions.  The  stride  in  both  trials  was  practically 
the  same  (14.27  ft.  and  14.23  ft.)  Note  the  same  off  hind  excessive 
extension.  There  was  therefore,  apparently,  no  difference  between 


230 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


the  round  toes  of  Fig.  173  (near  fore  and  off  hind)  and  the  squared 
toes  of  Fig.  176,  except  in  degree. 

Comparing  these  two  diagrams  we  find  that  the  near  fore  with 


n  —   roe-    - 


Extensions  :    . 

/-~/j  173  J 
72.  m 


of-nJi-   '+.20K. 
nf-oh  '    3.26ft. 

•     .3  4- ft. 
or  jl. 2.8 in- 

3. 73ft. 


r/o .  177 

Latera.1  extensions 
reduced  one  ha,lf . 


|  3  in 

*£ 

oh 

of 

t  ,  • 

|  2  /jfin 

V^ 

.1 

fa 

^  foes  tn 
\-2.6° 

the  round  toe  extends  1.2  inch  (1.92 — 0.72)  more  than  that  with  the 
squared  toe,  and  the  off  hind  with  the  round  toe  extends  0.48  inch 
(I2.48 — 12.)  more  than  that  with  the  squared  toe.  The  shoeing  of 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  231 

Figs.  173  and  176  is  nearly  the  same  in  detail,  except  in  angle  of  off 
fore,  in  weight  on  near  side,  and  in  shape  of  hind  shoes  as  well  as 
greater  length  of  near  hind  in  Fig.  173  or  the  previous  shoeing.  The 
separation  of  fore  from  hind  feet,  or  the  average  distance  between 
them,  is  greater  in  the  last  shoeing  (3.73  ft.)  by  4.8  in.  over  that  of 

Fig.  173  (3-33  ft.) 

The  stride  in  each  trial  was  about  the  same:  14.27  ft.  and 
14.23  ft.,  but  the  variations  of  both  the  fore  and  the  hind  legs  from 
these  average  strides  were  much  smaller  in  scope,  or  more  regular,  in 
the  second  trial  (Fig.  176),  and  the  reason  for  this  greater  regularity 
seems  to  lie  in  the  fact  that  both  the  near  fore  and  the  off  hind 
had  squared  toes,  as  in  Fig.  172.  This  caused  the  higher  action  and 
the  somewhat  lesser  extension  of  these  two  feet.  Now,  we  find,  in 
comparing  the  differences  of  the  separations  between  the  feet  which 
move  together,  that  in  Fig.  176  these  are  both  greater  than  in  Fig. 
173 ;  that  is  to  say,  the  near  fore  and  the  off  hind  are  separated 
more  by  0.38  ft.  (3.26 — 2.88)  or  4.56  in.,  and  the  off  fore  and  the  near 
hind  are  separated  more  by  0.42  ft.  (4.20 — 3.78)  or  5.04  in.  The  sum 
total  of  these  differences  divided  by  2  gives  us  0.4  ft.  or  4.8  in.  as 
the  difference  between  the  average  distances  in  both  cases  (3.73 — 3-33)- 

The  main  reason  for  this  greater  separation  is  undoubtedly  due 
to  the  different  adjustments  on  the  near  hind  foot  in  these  two 
trials.  Its  shoe  in  Fig.  173  is  set  full  at  the  toe  and  has  swelled  heels, 
while  in  Fig.  176  it  is  set  even  at  the  toe  and  has  flat  heels.  Besides, 
the  near  hind  foot  in  Fig.  173  is  longer  than  in  Fig.  176.  All  of 
these  conditions  would  favor  a  greater  forward  extension  of  near 
hind  in  Fig.  173.  My  contention  has  always  been  that  the  influence 
of  one  such  different  adjustment  on  one  foot  will  often  cause  an 
entire  change  of  extension  or  of  gait.  Swelled  heels  without  calks 
have  their  drawbacks,  inasmuch  as  they  are  apt  to  slide  and  thereby 
increase  the  time  of  contact  with  the  ground,  which  hinders  the 
horse  from  having  prompt  and  free  movements.  Again,  they  are 
also  apt  to  increase  the  forward  extension  when  used  in  conjunction 
with  the  squared  toe.  When  the  swelled  heels  are  short,  they  are  also 
aided  in  this  forward  extension  by  the  somewhat  easier  break-over, 


232  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

due  to  the  incline  of  the  shoe  from  heels  torward  toe.  They  do  not, 
therefore,  form  a  part  of  a  safe  and  suitable  shoe;  but  at  the  time 
of  these  shoeings  I  had  an  idea  that  their  use  would,  in  general,  correct 
the  hind  forward  extensions.  In  a  following  trial  we  shall  have  occa- 
sion to  see,  after  a  fashion,  again  the  effect  of  a  longer  rather  than 
a  higher  heel,  even  though  the  heels  on  both  were  swelled  heels. 

Conditions  in  these  two  trials  being,  however,  based  on  these 
swelled  hind  heels,  the  comparison  between  them  may  be  considered 
a  proper  one,  even  though  too  many  minor  conditions  or  changes 
again  figure  in  these  trials.  While  in  the  previous  trial  (Fig.  173) 
the  hind  heels  were  somewhat  different  in  their  thickness,  in  the  sub- 
sequent trial  (Fig.  176)  the  near  hind  shoe  was  Hat,  while  the  off 
hind  had  squared  toe  and  swelled  heels.  The  near  hind  shoe  was  also 
heavier  than  before,  which  in  reality  increased  the  thickness  of  the 
web  of  that  shoe.  In  spite  of  this,  however,  the  extension  of  near 
hind  did  not  exceed  that  of  off  hind.  The  reason  for  this  seems  to 
have  been  the  easier  break-over  of  the  off  hind,  due  to  squared  toe 
and  swelled  heels.  This  condition  was  discussed  under  Fig.  175. 
This  distinct  difference  between  the  hind  shoes  and  feet  gives  an 
idea  of  what  counteracting  effects  we  may  have  in  our  endeavors  to 
get  everything  into  harmonious  motion.  By  the  variations  of  the 
hind  legs  from  the  average  strides  the  off  hind  showed  in  both  trials — 
round  toe  and  squared  toe — an  unsteadiness  hard  to  account  for,  inas- 
imnch  as  it  appeared  to  be  the  most  active  and  the  freest  leg.  It 
was  certainly  extended  ahead  of  its  opposite  mate,  the  near  hind,  and 
was  not  dragged  after  it  as  is  the  case  of  so  many  unsteady  and  hop- 
ping horses;  nor  could  the  near  hind  be  pronounced  a  weak  leg,  be- 
cause it  was  reasonably  steady  as  to  its  variations. 

In  the  trial  of  Fig.  176  the  off  hind  varied  quite  a  bit  more  from 
average  stride,  the  totals  of  these  variations  above  and  below  average 
being  -f-  3-25  and  —  2.60,  while  those  of  near  hind  were  4-  2-°°  and 
—  2.16,  the  latter  showing  a  pretty  even  swing  of  motion.  Despite  the 
fact,  therefore,  of  the  off  hind  pointing  forward  in  excess  and  making 
the  impression  of  a  strong  leg  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  it  really 
was  unable,  through  some  weakness  of  tendon  or  ligament,  to  extend 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  233 

itself  out  behind,  and  its  shifting  to  a  position  between  the  two  fore 
legs  was,  therefore,  a  device  of  the  horse  to  avoid  interference.  The 
mere  fact  of  such  position  does  not  by  itself  argue  any  lack  of  for- 
ward extension,  as  is  often  taken  for  granted  when  the  observation 
is  made  by  the  eye  and  not  by  actual  measurements. 

It  was  noteworthy  to  observe  on  the  ground  the  continual  strik- 
ing and  slipping  of  the  heels  of  the  off  hind,  particularly  the  outside 
heel,  while  the  near  hind  showed  at  all  the  tracks  a  firm  hold  and  a  de- 
pression of  the  toe.  This  is  the  characteristic  difference  in  signs  be- 
tween a  foot  that  extends  too  far  forward  and  one  that  extends  too 
far  backward.  The  power  of  propulsion  lies  largely  at  the  toe  and, 
therefore,  the  ability  of  the  near  hind  to  shove  the  ground  from  un- 
der it,  as  it  were,  gives  the  off  hind  the  excessive  forward  reach.  In 
other  words,  the  two  hind  legs  perform  extreme  functions,  which  an 
even  or  regular  gait  requires  them  to  share,  equally. 

Right  here  we  might  as  well  take  into  account  the  lateral  exten- 
sion of  the  second  trial,  or  the  way  the  feet  travel  as  viewed  from 
behind  and  measured  from  the  standard  or  median  line  in  the  middle 
between  the  sulky  wheels. 

Fig.  174  gives  the  lateral  extension  of  the  previous  trial  and  Fig. 
177  of  the  following  one.  By  studying  both  of  these  results  an  idea 
may  be  obtained  of  the  importance  of  the  proper  lines  of  motion  and 
how  these  are  disturbed  by  one  such  faulty  leg  as  the  off  hind  in  this 
case.  While  the  near  side  is  not  much  affected,  save,  perhaps,  in 
the  nearness  of  the  fore  to  the  middle  line,  the  off  side  presents  the 
reverse  of  what  it  ought  to  be  and  of  what  the  near  side  shows.  Here 
the  off  hind,  by  its  inward  line  of  motion,  compels  the  off  fore  to  step 
outside  of  it,  or  rather  both  fore  shift  from  the  near  to  the  off  side. 
The  toeing  in  of  the  off  fore  is  'due  to  faulty  paring  of  hoof,  although 
the  foot  has  that  inclination  if  left  to  itself.  The  next  trial  will  dem- 
onstrate the  remedy  for  that  faulty  direction  of  foot. 

Four  weeks  after  the  shoeing  of  the  trial  shown  in  the  results  of 
Fig.  176  this  gelding  was  again  shod  with  round  toes  on  all  four  feet, 
as  given  in  Fig.  178.  Here  we  find  the  toe  lengths  of  the  fore  feet 
the  same,  and  that  of  the  near  hind  longer  by  %G  inch  than  the 


234  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

other  three.  With  equally  swelled  heels  on  hind,  those  of  the  near 
are  %  inch  longer  than  those  of  the  off  hind.  In  paring  the  feet  the 
angle  of  near  fore  is  increased  while  that  of  the  off  fore  is  diminished 


39/t6in.-  to 


or  3. 96 in. 

3,6  ft 
Stride  =  /5, 


no. 

:La.leral  'extension  oF  Fig.  173 
Teoiuce3,  one.  Tictlf 

nh  nf  oh.\  or 

\  3!b/'rt.  _  \  /&//?.  T"!  ^'/g/'n.       T 


one  degree.  Behind  the  angle  of  near  foot  is  decreased  to  52°.  Front 
shoes  are  equalized  each  to  10  oz.  and  behind  the  difference  in  weight 
on  near  hind  is  also  less,  though  off  hind  has  one  ounce  more  than  in 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  235 

Fig.  176.  To  counteract  toeing  in  of  off  fore  it  is  lowered  on  inside 
toe  and  given  a  slightly  longer  outside  heel ;  and  the  toeing  out  of  the  off 
hind  is  corrected  by  lowering  of  outside  toe. 

The  change  to  round  toes  was  merely  an  idea  for  the  sake  of 
comparing  result  with  squared  toes,  but  it  would  have  been  better  if 
certain  other  conditions,  such  as  angles  and  weights,  could  have  re- 
mained the  same.  It  is  the  same  old  story  of  trying  to  do  too  much 
at  once,  although  the  object  in  view  was  evidently  to  (i)  check  the 
extension  of  the  near  fore  to  some  degree,  and  (2)  to  cause  the  near 
hind  to  extend  more. 

Set  as  the  hind  legs  seem  to  be  regarding  each  other's  motions, 
the  effort  to  bring  forward  the  near  hind  affects  the  off  hind  indi- 
rectly so  that  the  difference  between  the  two  is  not  as  great  as  antici- 
pated. Again  we  see  the  impression  of  toe  in  the  near  hind  tracks 
and  that  of  heels  in  the  off  hind  tracks ;  also  in  front  it  was  seen  that 
the  longer  outside  heel  of  the  off  fore  had  a  retarding  effect.  It 
showed  plainly  at  each  track  as  having  struck  the  ground  harder  than 
necessary.  In  both  fore  the  toes  showed  a  good  toe  impression,  but 
those  of  the  off  fore  were  deeper  and  proved  the  greater  backward 
extension  of  that  foot.  The  longer  heels  of  near  hind  no  doubt  had 
the  effect  heretofore  discussed,  namely,  that  of  increased  extension. 

Looking  at  the  lateral  extension  averages  in  Fig.  179  we  see  the 
off  hind  in  a  worse  position  than  before,  being  on  the  wrong  side  of 
the  middle  line  and  still  between  the  two  fore  feet.  Paring  it  as  indi- 
cated had  very  likely  something  to  do  with  the  position.  In  the  varia- 
tions from  averages  the  off  fore  showed  the  greater  activity  over  the 
near  fore.  It  made  the  greater  efforts,  due,  no  doubt,  to  its  lower  angle 
and  the  influence  of  the  near  hind,  which  likewise  varied  more  than 
off  hind ;  but,  as  before  set  forth,  the  variations  of  the  hind  legs 
seem  to  be  different  in  their  indications  from  those  of  fore,  inasmuch 
as  the  greater  variations  from  the  average  stride  belong  to  the  defi- 
cient leg,  while  with  the  fore  the  most  active  leg  has  the  greater  varia- 
tions from  the  average.  Reaching  out  with  the  fore  seems  to  indicate 
a  desire  for  an  increase  of  speed,  while  behind  there  is  proof  that  the 
leg  doing  the  least  varying  work  is  the  best  adapted  for  the  propelling 


236  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


power  necessary  for  speed.  The  initiative  in  speed  is  sometimes 
taken  by  the  fore,  but  the  hind  attend  to  most  of  the  propulsion  and 
for  that  reason  more  often  start  an  increase  of  speed,  while  the  fore 
more  often  put  a  check  to  speed. 

My  notes  of  this  trial  show  the  first  evidence  of  irregular  time 
beats  between  the  pairs  of  correlated  feet;  that  is  to  say,  the  off  fore 


'S'/q^toes      3?$ 


^  more  swell! 
Extensions: 


\Jess.  —  «-  swelled  he  eh  — 

Extensions: 
8  Jin 


FIG.  1  80 


Of-nh  -      3.39  FL 

nF-oh   ~     3.36ft. 

LifF.       =         .03ft.. 
of  .36  in  .          i 


Stride    = 


and  the  near  hind  seemed  to  strike  the  .ground  harder  than  the  other 
two  feet.  There  was,  so  to  speak,  a  premature  fall  of  the  off  fore 
and  the  near  hind.  Shortly  after  discussing  Fig.  174  mention  was 
made  of  this  peculiar  limp  in  the  rhythm  of  the  trot.  There  seems  to 
have  been  a  gradual  increase  of  this  irregular  rhythm,  and  in  a  sub- 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  237 

sequent  shoeing — Fig.  I79-A — to  which  reference  was  made,  and 
which  again  shows  squared  toes  on  near  fore  and  off  hind,  this  limp 
between  the  two  pairs  of  feet  became  still  more  evident  to  the  ear. 

At  the  next  and  last  trial  of  the  season  my  notes  tell  me  that  the 
gelding  was  going  well  (Fig.  180),  but  that  he  was  liable  to  interfere 
on  off  side  and  would  break  in  consequence.  The  distances  of  corre- 
lated feet  were  practically  the  same  (3.36 — 3.39),  and  the  regularity 
of  the  trotting  rhythm  left  nothing  to  be  desired  while  the  good 
action  lasted  and  until  interference  took  place. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  danger  of  excessive  ex- 
tension by  one  pair  of  diagonally  opposite  or  correlated  feet.  Here 
is  an  instance  where  equality  of  distance  between  these  fore  and  hind 
feet  had  been  achieved,  but  with  too  great  an  extension  of  one  pair, 
viz.,  the  near  fore  and  off  hind.  Now  let  us  look  at  the  shoeing. 

In  Fig.  I79-A  the  near  fore  is  checked  in  forward  extension  by 
the  roll  and  squared  toe  of  the  shoe,  but  again  it  is  inclined  toward 
extension  by  its  foot  being  shorter  (3^  in.)  than  that  of  off  fore 
(3^  in.).  For  the  latter  acts  as  a  stilt  for  the  greater  extension 
of  its  opposite  mate.  Again,  the  higher  angle  (52°)  was  to  correct 
the  dished  toe  of  the  near  fore  as  compared  with  the  straight  toe 
and  lower  angle  of  off  fore;  but  in  conjunction  with  the  squared  toe 
this  greater  angle  seems  to  facilitate  the  break-over  at  toe.  All  in 
all,  therefore,  the  greater  forward  extension  of  the  near  fore  is 
almost  a  foregone  conclusion,  especially  if  we  take  into  consideration 
the  hind  adjustment.  Here  we  have,  to  begin  with,  the  same  weight 
in  both'  shoes,  but  the  longer  toe  on  the  near  hind.  Again,  the  higher 
angle  and  greater  swell  in  heels  of  the  off  hind,  together  with  the 
squared  toe  seems  to  entirely  counteract  the  longer  toe  of  near  hind. 
The  absence  of  greater  weight  in  the  near  hind  shoe  does  also  not 
favor  extension.  We  have,  therefore,  again  everything  in  favor  of  a 
greater  extension  with  the  off  hind,  especially  if  we  remember  the 
habitual  forward  reach  of  that  leg.  There  being  such  a  habit,  we  need 
only  recall  the  intimate  relation  existing  between  the  feet  that  move 
together  in  order  to  understand  the  mutual  influence  of  the  near  fore 
by  the  off  hind. 


238  Gait  of  the  American  i  rotter  and  Pacer 

My  final  experiment  with  this  horse  was,  as  mentioned  before, 
that  of  Fig.  180.  The  difference  in  front  weight  was  reversed  and 
both  angles  lowered.  The  toe-lengths  are  the  same.  In  both  Figs. 
1 79- A  and  180  the  roll  of  near  fore  shoe  is  greater  than  that  of  off 
fore.  With  a  heavier  shoe  very  often  goes  a  thicker  web,  so  that  in 
the  former  trial  the  near  fore  was  perhaps  as  long  a  foot  as  the  off 
fore ;  while  in  Fig.  180  the  off  fore  had  a  heavier  and  thicker  shoe 
and  hence  greater  length.  Again,  the  heavier  shoe  on  the  off  fore  and 
its  squared  toe  had  the  effect  of  increasing  the  folding  of  the  leg  and 
the  elevation  of  that  foot  without  increasing  the  extension. 

The  average  stride  in  each  case  was  exactly  the  same:  15.59  ft. 
The  average  separation  between  the  extremifies  in  these  trials  were: 
3.54  ft.  in  Fig.  I79-A,  and  3.38  ft.  in  Fig.  180,  which  makes  a  differ- 
ence of  .16  ft.  or  1.92  in.  In  other  words,  there  is  a  greater  separa- 
tion where  the  squared  toes  occur  diagonally  across  than  where  they 
are  applied  on  the  right  side  of  horse.  A  glance  at  the  total  scope 
of  the  variations  of  the  individual  strides  from  the  general  average 
stride  shows  the  greater  disturbance  in  the  second  trial  (Fig.  180). 
This  proves  that  when  the  subject  was  allowed  to  follow  his  inclina- 
tion, as  in  Fig.  I79-A,  the  movements  were  less  forced. 

Let  us  look  at  the  total  scope  of  these  variations  in  each  case.  We 
have : 

near-fore-off.  near-hind-off. 

Fig.  I79-A        6.56  ft.        5.02  ft.        6.69  ft.        4.39  ft. 
Fig.  180          '9.00  "          5.71  "          6.40  "          6.05  " 

In  marking  these  totals  as  "feet"  it  is  intended  to  call  the  reader's 
attention  once  more  to  the  meaning  of  such  variations.  These  totals 
comprise  the  sum  of  all  the  differences  which  each  leg  showed  in  all 
of  its  strides  from  the  general  average.  The  smaller  these  variations 
are  as  a  whole  the  more  regular  will  be  the  motion  of  the  animal.  In 
their  relation  to  each  other  we  have  already  learned  that  a  greater 
variation  in  front  denotes  the  stronger  leg  and  the  greater  varia- 
tion behind  denotes  the  weaker  leg;  or,  perhaps,  it  would  be 
better  to  say  that  such  a  fore  leg  points  forward  more  than  its  mate, 


Experiments  and  their  Verification  239 

and  that  such  a  hind  leg  extends  forward  more  easily  than  it  points 
backward.  In  both  these  cases  the  near  fore  and  the  off  hind  act 
together  in  those  excessive  extensions.  In  the  second  trial  we  find  the 
near  fore  a  good  deal  more  irregular,  while  both  hind  have  approached 
to  a  closer  equality  of  extension  (6.40  —  6.05). 

This  horse,  therefore,  had  a  limit  to  his  improvement  in  speed. 
He  lacked  the  harmony  of  motion  that  is  absolutely  necessary  for  sus- 
tained efforts  ;  but  before  the  case  is  dismissed  the  lateral  extensions 
of  Fig.  180  should  be  examined  as  given  in  Fig.  181.  They  were  aver- 
aged from  21  positions  of  each  foot.  The  distances  are  given  in 
inches  as  heretofore. 

Again  we  have  the  unsatisfactory  inward  placing  of  the  off  hind, 
the  other  feet  being  in  good  position.  The  off  hind  should  be  at  least 
two  inches  on  outside  of  the  off  fore,  not  only  to  correspond  with  the 

Ft  6.  181 


Loclera.1  extensions  offig.JSO 
reduced  one  half. 


nf 


l 


of 

\ 


other  side,  but  also  to  conform  to  the  general  rule  of. lateral  exten- 
sions for  the  trot.  It  is  at  times,  on  the  stretch  so  measured,  placed 
at  distances,  in  inches,  from  the  median  line  as  follows:  i%,  il/2, 
1^4,  2*4,  ^2,  4,  l/4.  and  then  drops  inside  the  line  to  — 1*4,  — i,  — £4, 
and  so  forth,  showing  the  unsteadiness  of  a  foot  in  danger  of  inter- 
ference or  actually  interfering  with  the  lateral  fore  foot.  In  studying 
the  tracks  laid  out,  as  it  were,  before  one's  eyes,  it  may  not  always 
be  expedient  or  possible  to  map  them  out  as  suggested,  but  it  will  be 
always  advisable  to  go  over  them  carefully  and  note  anything  ab- 
normal in  the  contact  with  the  ground.  When  the  surface  is  good  and 
smooth  and  the  soil  is  not  of  the  slipping  kind,  such  as  a  sandy  one, 
one  may  rest  assured  that  the  irregularities  of  the  impressions,  occur- 
ring as  they  often  do  with  one  particular  foot,  stand  for  some  indica- 
tion of  a  defect  in  action.  For,  as  before  asserted,  the  contact  of  the 


240  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

foot  with  the  ground,  in  order  to  be  of  the  greatest  possible  effective- 
ness, must  be  distinct,  firm  and  light;  in  other  words,  it  must  not  show 
any  blurred  outlines  due  to  premature  fall  of  the  foot,  or  any  hard 
concussion  due  to  a  wrong  direction  or  an  unbalanced  condition  of 
the  foot,  or,  again,  it  should  not  show  any  sliding  or  slipping  of  any 
part  of  the  shoe.  Where  any  of  these  observations  are  made  repeat- 
edly on  one  foot  or  more  there  is  ample  evidence  of  some  disturbing 
cause,  either  amenable  to  treatment  or  due  to  structural  faults  beyond 
repair.  At  any  rate,  as  "prima  facie"  evidence  of  a  faulty  gait  such  a 
close  scrutiny  of  the  tracks  is  much  to  be  commended,  even  as  a 
matter  apart  from  any  measurements  and  calculations  at  which  many 
men  may  balk. 

In  the  ordinary  course  of  events,  and  with  a  commendable  wis- 
dom to  avoid  excessive  toil,  trainers  are  not  apt  to  undertake  the  de- 
velopment of  horses  of  deficient  action  and  speed.  Even  with  the 
horses  of  promise  the  education  necessary  for  their  appearance  at 
the  speed  contests,  or  for  their  perfection  as  good  roadsters,  requires 
much  close  attention  and  labor.  The  inventiveness  of  the  American 
mind  forestalls  drudgery,  and  it  is  ever  intent  on  improvements  along 
easy  lines.  But  no  one  with  an  active  mind  and  body  can  or  should 
avoid  the  puzzles  and  perplexities  of  his  vocation  in  life  or  the  toil 
imposed  upon  him  for  the  solution  of  such  difficulties.  Talent  or 
aptitude  for  certain  work  is  a  man's  real  capital,  but  its  income  is  in- 
creased only  by  the  experience  gathered  through  intelligent  applica- 
tion and  keen  observation. 

It  was  really  beyond  my  purpose  to  try  the  patience  of  the  reader 
by  presenting  so  many  experiments  of  my  own,  but  my  efforts  to  show 
the  possibility  of  correcting  a  faulty  gait  will,  I  hope,  prove  the  neces- 
sity of  exact  knowledge  of  a  gait  before  remedies  are  applied.  Er- 
rors which  I  have  made  in  the  combination  of  changes  can  be  avoided 
by  fewer  and  more  marked  differences,  so  that  the  cases  given  will 
at  least  serve  as  examples  of  a  possible  improvement  in  locomotion. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE  ANGLE  AND  LENGTH  OF  FOOT. 


One  of  the  main  troubles  of  balancing  a  horse  in  motion  lies  in 
the  ever  growing  hoof.  Besides,  the  natural  or  rather  often  unnat- 
ural shape  of  it  is  in  itself  always  an  obstacle  to  success.  The  shoe 
can  in  a  measure  remedy  the  deficiencies,  as  has  already  been  indi- 
cated, when  a  difference  in  size  or  shape  between  the  fore  feet  or 
the  hind  feet  appears.  One  of  the  most  important  and  simple  con- 
ditions of  a  good  gait  is  a  good  foot  on  each  leg  and  a  close  similarity, 
if  not  an  exact  equality,  between  the  two  fore  and  the  two  hind 
hoofs. 

During  the  various  investigations  given  it  was  necessary  to  take 
for  granted  that  the  reader  was  familiar  with  David  Roberge's  theory 
of  pointing. 

It  will  hardly  be  necessary  to  recall  the  various  instances  where 
the  angle  and  the  length  of  the  foot  were  effective  in  producing  the  re- 
quired extension  or  its  check,  but  we  shall  look  into  other  cases 
nevertheless.  From  the  lengthwise  section  of  the  foot,  as  given  in 
Fig.  182,  as  well  as  from  a  few  further  illustrations,  the  reader  may 
gather  the  importance  of  the  apparently  small  details  connected  with 
the  paring  and  trimming  of  the  hoof.  One  lick  of  the  rasp  more  or 
less  can  disturb  the  equilibrium  of  the  foot  or  direct  it  as  it  should 
point  to  remedy  a  faulty  motion.  All  this  delicate  work  is  largely 
dependent  on  the  unquestioned  skill  of  our  intelligent  farriers,  who 
have  made  a  study  of  this  matter. 

It  is  in  their  hands,  too,  that  a  defective  foot  can  be  assisted  by  a 
shoe  furnishing  certain  compensations  required.  I  am  not  as  anxious 
to  advise  these  skilful  mechanics  as  I  am  to  give  them  indirectly  a 
method  whereby  they  can  more  readily  understand  what  is  wanted  of 

241 


242  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

them.  As  it  is,  they  are  supposed  to  remedy  what  the  trainer  him- 
self cannot  often  explain  to  them.  They  are  really  overburdened  with 
responsibility. 

While,  therefore,  many  of  the  effects  of  the  angle  and  the 
length  of  the  foot  were  anticipated  in  the  experiments  given,  the  fur- 
ther demonstration  of  the  facts  and  figures  involved  will  not  be  amiss 
in  point  of  argument. 

The  terms  "low  toe"  and  "high  toe"  used  by  David  Roberge  are 
entirely  misleading  and  erroneous  in  my  opinion,  for  the  toe  can  in 

60' 


Fron  fat  length  oF  foe : 

AL  ,AM,  AD,  AN  -  3&  in. 

Length  -from  foe/b/tee/ 
AB-  Sin 

of  heel- 
C B~  Ifr/n     C  P  ~  IVa/n    CR  -  2  fit  in. 


len$thw/se  Vertical  Jetf/o/?  of //oof 


reality  be  only  long  or  short  according  to  the  distances  along  the 
frontal  surface  of  hoof  from  coronet  to  tip  or  end  of  hoof.  When 
the  toe  appears  to  be  either  "high"  or  "low"  that  difference  and  the 
various  shades  of  it  lie  in  the  height  of  the  heel,  for  it  is  the  heel  that 
determines  the  angle  of  the  foot.  The  same  toe  may  appear  short 
with  a  high  heel,  as  the  foot  L  A  R  in  Fig.  182  will  indicate,  and  againy 
it  may  appear  long  with  a  low  heel,  as  D  A  B  will  show. 

The  term  "length  of  toe"  should,  therefore,  always  be  used  in  con- 
junction with  the  angle  of  the  foot,  or  the  height  of  the  heel.  In  the 
illustration  the  toe  A  D  is  for  all  positions  of  the  heel  a  fixed  quan- 


The  Angle  and  Length  of  Foot  245 

tity  ($/2  in.),  but  we  may  reverse  the  order  of  things  and  shorten  or 
lengthen  the  toe  at  A  and  retain  the  same  heel  at  B.  For  instance, 
DEB  would  be  an  absolute  shortening  of  the  toe  to  3^  in.,  and 
D  F  B  an  absolute  lengthening  of  the  toe  to  3^4  inches. 

When  both  toe  and  heel  are  lengthened  we  may  more  appropri- 
ately speak  of  lengthening  the  whole  foot.  It  is  very  often  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  understand  the  meaning  of  giving  a  horse  "longer 
toes,"  whether  a  longer  toe  with  the  same  heel,  is  meant  as  the  re- 
quired change,  or  whether  the  toe  and  the  heel  are  to  be  left  longer. 
In  the  former  case  the  angle  becomes  smaller  (D  F  B  is  a  smaller 
angle  than  DAB)  and  in  the  latter  case  the  angle  remains  the  same 
and  the  line  of  the  sole  would  be  parallel  to  A  B  from  the  lengthened 
point  of  toe  at  F  to  a  point  below  B  at  heel ;  in  other  words,  the  whole 
hoof  would  be  lengthened. 

Mention  is  made  of  these  terms  because  there  is  some  confusion 
of  ideas  in  regard  to  these  matters.  When  the  shape  of  the  foot  can 
be  readily  determined  by  the  simple  process  of  measuring  the  length 
of  toe  on  the  frontal  surface  of  hoof  and  by  determining  the  angle  it 
makes  with  the  heel,  there  is  really  no  necessity  of  any  confusion  of 
terms.  By  taking  notes  we  can  always  establish  both  conditions  again 
at  any  subsequent  shoeing;  but  to  tell  the  shoer  that  a  longer  toe  is 
wanted  without  taking  into  consideration  the  angle  of  the  foot — that 
is,  the.  height  of  the  heel — leaves  at  all  times  a  vast  deal  of  uncertainty 
and  doubt  in  the  mind  of  a  well-meaning  shoer.  These  two  terms, 
namely,  length  of  toe  and  angle  of  foot,  should  suffice  to  indicate  its 
shape  and  by  them  should  all  changes  be  designated.  A  pair  of  cali- 
pers or  compasses  and  a  hoof  gauge  should  be  in  the  possession  of 
every  trainer  and  should  certainly  form  part  of  the  tools  of  any  re- 
liable shoer.  However  much  skill  of  eye  or  of  hand  he  may  possess 
there  is  nowadays  a  demand  for  scientific  exactness  in  the  execution 
of  details,  which  also  holds  true  in  regard  to  the  shoeing  of  the  trotter 
and  the  pacer. 

Even  with  the  tools  at  hand  to  determine  the  length  of  toe  and 
the  angle  of  foot,  the  lateral  balance,  or  the  height  of  the  quarters,  is 
a  task  which  must  be  left  to  the  eye  and  the  skill  of  the  farrier. 


244  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

Knowing  whether  a  horse  points  outwardly  or  inwardly,  or  whether 
he  travels  too  closely,  or  whether  his  fore  or  hind  feet  land  at  equal 
distances  from  the  middle  or  median  line,  will  determine  if  the  center 
of  gravity  of  the  animal  moves  in  the  plane  dividing  the  horse  length- 
wise into  two  equal  halves.  If  from  the  results  of  the  lateral  measure- 
ments there  is,  as  we  have  seen,  a  habitual  tilting  of  the  body  to  one 
side  and  the  feet  land  at  unequal  distances  from  the  median  line,  there 
is  generally  something  the  matter  with  the  lateral  balance  of  the 
foot.  Knowledge  of  such  facts  will,  therefore,  enable  the  shoer  to 
adjust  the  lateral  balance  to  remedy  the  fault,  even  if  such  raising  or 
lowering  of  one  side  or  the  other  of  the  foot  may  not  satisfy  the  eye ; 
for,  lateral  balance,  as  well  as  the  whole  question  of  shoeing  and 
trimming  the  foot,  is  in  most  cases  one  of  compensations  rather  than 
of  ideal  conditions. 

To  have  simple  and  exact  terms  in  describing  the  conditions  of  a 
hoof  is  of  great  importance,  and  instead  of  calling  LAB  (Fig.  182) 
a  foot  with  a  "high  toe"  or  otherwise,  let  us  take  into  account  the  only 
two  rational  conditions  possible,  namely,  that  LAB  designates  a  foot 
with  a  toe  length  of  3^  in.  and  an  angle  of  60°,  or  D  A  B  is  a  foot 
with  a  toe  length  of  3^/2  in.  and  an  angle  of  50°. 

If  with  the  heel  fixed  at  B  we  shorten  the  toe  to  the  point  E, 
we  have  an  angle  D  E  B  of  52°,  or  if  we  lengthen  the  toe  to  F  we 
have  an  angle  D  F  B  of  48°.  Again,  if  the  toe  remains  at  A  and  we 
leave  the  grown  heel  at  P,  or  apply  a  shoe  to  raise  it  that  much,  we 
have  an  angle  D  A  P  of  55°.  In  all  these  cases,  therefore,  we  have 
simply  to  account  for  the  length  of  toe  and  for  the  angle  of  its 
frontal  line  with  the  sole  to  establish  the  same  conditions  at  any  sub- 
sequent shoeing.  We  do  not  have  to  guess  to  get  it  "about  right," 
but  know  exactly  what  it  should  be  from  the  results  of  the  same  con- 
ditions prevailing  before. 

The  reader  should  make  himself  familiar  with  the  three  principles 
of  Roberge  regarding  the  trimming  of  the  foot.  On  pages  78  to  80 
of  his  book  he  describes  very  ably  the  leveling,  the  symmetry  and 
the  balance  of  the  foot,  and  gives  the  good  advice  "to  remove  horse- 
shoeing from  the  domain  of  empiricism  and  place  it  in  the  region  of 


The  Angle  and  Length  of  Foot  245 

science  and  art  where  it  ought  to  be."  What  is  empiricism  but  a  set 
practice  based  on  each  man's  limited  experience,  a  practice  often 
founded  on  erroneous  suppositions  and  an  experience  gathered  from 
inexact  observations ! 

By  balance  he  means  "the  perfect  adjustment  of  the  shoe  in  the 
fore  and  aft  direction/'  and  he  should  have  included  in  that  statement 
the  very  thing  which  Fig.  182  illustrates,  namely,  the  toe  length  and 
the  angle  of  the  foot. 

Leveling  to  the  "white  line,"  a  proper  horizontal  surface  of  sole 
from  side  to  side  and  finally  the  requisite  toe  and  heel — these  are  the 
three  important  principles  of  paring  the  foot.  On  these  are  based  the 
averages  of  the  measurements  given  by  me,  since  they  form  the  safest 
indications  of  balance,  or  the  lack  of  it. 

It  should  at  all  times  be  remembered  that  balance  is  not  a  fixed 
quantity,  but  exists  absolutely  for  a  short  time  only.  The  growing 
foot  and  the  wear  of  the  shoe  soon  make  of  it  a  questionable  condi- 
tion more  likely  to  cause  disturbances  rather  than  improvements. 

It  has  come  under  my  observation  quite  frequently  that  hoofs  de- 
velop or  grow  unequally,  not  only  with  regard  to  each  other,  but  also 
with  regard  to  the  growth  at  the  toe  and  at  the  heel.  It  is  easy  to  find 
this  out  if  the  calipers  and  the  hoof  gauge  are  applied  to  the  hoof 
immediately  after  the  shoe  has  been  taken  off  and  the  data  of  its  toe 
length  and  its  angle  be  compared  with  the  data  of  the  last  shoeing, 
or  the  exact  condition  of  the  foot  before  the  shoe  was  put  on.  It  is 
well  worth  while  to  make  these  comparisons,  as  they  enable  us  to  allow 
for  such  a  difference  of  growth  and  to  be  on  the  lookout  for  re- 
sulting irregularities  of  gait. 

Reference  is  here  made  to  the  case  discussed  under  Figs.  131,  132 
and  133,  where  the  near  hind  foot  showed  an  angle  of  52°  while  the 
off  hind  measured  55°.  While  the  off  hind  looked  like  a  club  foot  at 
first  on  account  of  its  steep  angle,  it  did  not  prove  to  be  one.  It  was 
simply  a  case  where  the  work  had  been  done  by  the  eye  instead  of  by 
the  gauge. 

Other  similar  cases  where  no  care  had  been  used  came  under  my 


246  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

notice  and  there  was  an  immediate  improvement  in  gait  once  the  cause 
of  the  previous  uneven  motion  had  been  removed. 

As  to  the  relative  merits  of  long  toes  or  of  high  heels,  it  is  a 
matter  often  of  choice  rather  than  of  judgment.  This  was  discussed 
elsewhere  but  will  bear  repetition.  I  prefer  at  all  times  a  reasonably 
short  foot  and  like  to  have  the  horse,  as  it  were,  close  to  the  ground. 
Besides  defending  the  merits  of  such  a  condition  I  feel  about  it  as  I 
do  about  long  fingernails  on  human  beings,  for  one  with  long  nails  is 
not  apt  to  be  a  person  able  or  willing  to  take  hold  of  things.  Such  a 
person  may  be  good  to  look  at  and  even  intellectual  and  perhaps  also 
"speedy,"  but  will  hardly  be  able  to  stand  the  strain  of  a  hard  contest 
in  the  race  of  life. 

The  toe  of  the  horse,  no  doubt,  has  its  important  function  in  pro- 
pulsion, as  can  be  witnessed  on  the  ground,  but  as  for  its  adding  dis- 
tance to  the  stride  or  taking  off  seconds  from  the  mile,  there  seems  to 
be  an  opportunity  for  the  traditional  Doubting  Thomas  to  assert  him- 
self by  a  shake  of  his  head.  The  added  strain  to  the  leverage  from 
heel  to  toe,  due  to  an  unusually  long  toe,  will  undo  the  advantage  gained 
as  claimed.  Of  course,  we  might  argue  that  a  long  toe  with  a  higher 
heel  lessens  the  leverage  and  moreover  lengthens  the  whole  leg,  and 
by  that  means  the  distance  covered  in  a  certain  unit  of  time  will  be 
greater  and  the  speed  therefore  increased ;  but,  again,  I  doubt  if  a  man 
on  stilts  could  beat  a  man  running  on  foot  at  any  fair  distance.  Be- 
sides, the  very  fact  that  Nature  sheds  all  superfluous  horn  of  the  hoof 
and  danger  of  disease  lurks  in  long  hoofs  should  be  a  caution  to  the 
adherent  of  long  feet. 

The  heels  have  at  times  a  better  reason  to  be  high  to  counteract  a 
strain,  for  instance,  on  the  fore  legs,  such  as  swelled  ligaments,  or 
tendons ;  and  it  must  be  left  to  the  trainer  to  take  such  temporary  or 
permanent  measures  to  alleviate  such  conditions. 

As  is  well  known,  the  toes  of  the  fore  feet  may  be  a  trifle  longer 
than  those  of  the  hind,  and  again,  the  angle  of  the  fore  feet  is  naturally 
lower  than  that  of  the  hind.  This  is  based  on  the  proper  separation  of 
the  extremities  such  as  is  required  for  a  good  gait.  Very  many 
trotters  shove  back  their  fore  legs  too  far  and  put  forward  their  hind 


The  Angle  and  Length  of  Foot  247 

legs  excessively,  so  that  not  only  interference  but  also  a  defective  gait 
is  the  result.  It  cannot  be  expected  to  fix  any  definite  angle  for  either 
fore  or  hind  feet ;  but  as  a  rule  the  frontal  line  of  hoof  should  form  a 
continuation  of  the  direction  of  the  pastern  joint.  The  extreme 
range  might  be  given  as  being  from  45°  to  55°  for  the  fore  and  from 
50°  to  60°  for  the  hind  feet. 

Fig.  182  will  give  the  reader  an  accurate  idea  of  the  sections  of 
the  feet  with  these  various  angles.  If  it  is  considered  desirable  to  re- 
tain a  certain  height  of  heel,  or  if  it  is  impossible  to  reduce  the  heel, 
corresponding  changes  in-  the  toe  will  bring  about  the  angle  of  the 
foot  best  adapted  to  the  horse. 

Lateral  balance  or  "symmetry,"  as  Roberge  calls  the  leveling  of 
the  foot  from  one  quarter  to  the  opposite  quarter,  concerns  the  direct 
lines  of  motion  of  the  feet  and  my  method  of  analyzing  it  by  means 
of  drawing  a  while  cord  midway  between  the  sulky  wheels  and  referring- 
to  it  every  track  with  regard  to  its  distance  from  it  and  the  inward  or 
outward  angle  it  makes  with  reference  to  this  median  line,  have  all 
been  discussed  before,  but  its  importance  may  demand  some  more 
attention. 

Whenever  it  seems  necessary  to  lengthen  one  leg  more  than  the 
other  the  toe  is  lengthened  that  much,  but  the  angle  is  kept  the  same, 
for  in  that  case  the  sole  line  A  B  will  be  let  down,  so  to  speak,  for  a 
certain  distance  all  the  way  from  toe  to  heel,  which  makes  it  parallel 
to  the  former  sole  line  A  B ;  but  while  the  angle  remains  the  same 
the  heel  is  of  course  raised  also,  so  that  with  both  toe  and  heel  raised 
we  have  a  longer  leg.  Moving  the  line  A  B  down  and  parallel  to  its 
former  position  will  therefore  lengthen  the  whole  foot,  as  it  should  be 
when  so  wanted. 

Experiments  have  proved  the  rule  given  heretofore  and  applicable 
to  most  cases,  namely,  that  the  longer  foot  of  the  two  fore  feet  will 
act  as  a  lever  for  the  shorter  one  and  will  therefore  not  extend  as 
much  as  the  latter ;  and,  again,  that  of  the  two  hind  feet  the  longer  foot 
will  extend  farther  than  the  shorter  one.  Whether  we  speak  of  a  longer 
foot  or  a  longer  leg  does  not  matter,  the  effect  being  the  same;  and 
so  it  may  happen  that  a  shorter  extension,  or  as  it  is  erroneously  called 


248 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


a  "shorter  stride,"  may  have  for  its  cause  these  differences  of  actual 
length  of  leg.  All  this  would  have  to  be  ascertained  by  trials  and  ex- 
periments to  that  effect.  As  a  rule  it  is  far  more  dangerous  to  have 
an  inequality  in  front  than  behind  on  account  of  the  stiffness  of  the 
front  articulation,  and  this  is  especially  true  of  the  near  fore  with  its 
choice  of  extension  around  the  turns,  as  we  have  seen  before.  Here 
the  jar  of  a  longer  foot  may  bring  about  a  sprain  of  the  ligaments  and 
tendons.  Behind,  with  the  looser  motions  of  quarters  this  danger  of 
injury  does  not  obtain  so  much.  If  there  is  such  an  inequality  it  is 
likely  to  be  alleviated  by  a  hop,  so  often  seen  in  badly  gaited  horses. 
A  curb  or  a  spavin  is,  however,  likely  to  appear  when  the  forward  ex- 
tension is  either  too  great  as  a  whole  or  excessive  in  one  hind  leg  only, 
especially  when  the  lateral  balance  of  the  foot  is  also  faulty. 


A." 


FIG.  I  S3 


B- 


Jluer.  cdst .  correl  feet  / 

4-  //. 


Now,  let  us  look  at  a  few  more  examples  to  illustrate  once  more 
the  effect  of  the  various  relations  between  toe  length  and  angle  of  the 
foot. 

Let  us  take,  for  instance,  a  case  where  the  changes  were  only  in 
angles  of  fore  and  hind,  as  in  Fig.  183.  The  toes  remain  the  same  in 
length,  while  the  heels,  both  in  front  and  behind,  are  lowered  one  de- 
gree in  B,  as  compared  with  A.  The  front  shoes  in  B  are  beveled  on 
outside  half  to  prevent  knee-hitting,  or  toeing  out,  and  the  outside  heels 
of  hind  shoes  are  longer  to  induce  hind  feet  to  toe  out  more.  We  shall 
see,  incidentally,  that  the  fact  of  outside  heels  being  longer  does  not 
cause  the  feet  to  spread  more  apart  in  this  instance.  The  stride  in  A  is 


The  Angle  and  Length  of  Foot  249 

5JX  inches  greater  than  in  B,  and  yet  the  distance  between  fore  and 
hind  is  practically  the  same  in  both.  We  have  found,  however,  that 
the  distance  between  the  extremities  generally  increases  somewhat 
with  the  longer  stride. 

The  subject  was  a  two-year-old  colt  by  Zombro  2:11*4,  a  son  of 
McKinney,  and  had  a  good  square  gait.  His  fault  in  front  lay  in  ex- 
cessive outward  angles  and  consequent  brushing  of  knees,  and  further- 
more a  deficient  forward  extension  of  hind  legs.  On  that  account  the 
front  shoes  were  beveled  for  an  easier  break-over  outwardly,  with  the 
results  as  given  in  Fig.  184.  The  feet  were  also  pared  as  indicated  to 
conform  to  the  rules  of  pointing. 

The  tracks  showed  concussions  of  outside  heels  in  both  front  feet, 
but  more  so  with  the  right  fore,  and  behind  both  heels  of  the  near  hind 

FIG.  1 84- 


77  H 

77  f                              A 

0^ 

f  4 

tiaa 

\  I*        ' 

Li 

f" 

\J! 

.«•/ 

r*-.t> 

£. 

t  S£ 

\    2-3/4.m  .1 

"        ^ 

^ 

7* 

2./°           \J 

0 

A** 

/6° 

and  outside. heel  of  the  off  hind  left  too  hard  a  contact  on  ground  to 
be  favorable  to  a  good  gait.  There  was,  however,  this  difference  be- 
tween A  and  B :  in  A  the  inside  heel  used  to  strike  the  ground  first  and 
cause  foot  to  twist  or  toe  inwardly,  while  in  B,  with  the  longer  and 
turned  outside  heels  of  both  hind  shoes,  the  contact  was  even  with  both 
heels  on  the  near  hind  and  it  left  no  particular  heel  concussions  of  the 
off  hind.  In  reality,  the  off  hind  was  suitably  shod  while  the  forced  out- 
ward angle  (from  o°  to  2.1°)  of  near  hind  told  its  story  by  increased 
concussions  of  both  heels.  There  was  in  B  a  greater  forward  extension 
with  near  hind  (ij^  inch),  which  may  have  been  caused  by  the  horse 
trying  to  avoid  a  shock.  At  any  rate,  the  difference  was  negligible,  as 
the  diagonally  opposite  off  fore  also  extended  slightly  ahead  of  the 
near  fore  (y2  in.)  It  is  not  evident,  however,  that  the  outside  longer 


250  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

heels  of  hind  causd  a  greater  spreading  of  hind  legs,  but  they  must  be 
held  responsible,  more  or  less,  for  the  distance  between  extremities  (B  14 
ft.)  being  about  the  same  as  in  the  previous  trial  (A  14.04  ft.),  in  spite  of 
the  lower  angle  (53°),  whose  effect  on  extension  these  heels  somewhat 
nullified.  In  addition  to  this  the  lower  angle  in  front  (B)  had  the  effect 
of  extending  the  fore  legs,  and  this  lower  angle  is  itself  more  effective 
than  the  lower  angle  of  hind  feet.  The  front  feet,  as  a  rule,  respond 
more  readily  to  a  smaller  change  in  angle  than  do  the  hind  feet, 
which  no  doubt  is  due  to  the  greater  rigidity  of  the  fore  quarter. 

It  may  be  well  to  state  here  that  the  variations  from  the  average 
stride  were  less  in  B  than  they  were  in  A,  proving  that  the  gait  in  the 
second  shoeing  was  more  adapted  to  the  horse.  I  have  always  found 
that  if  the  variations  of  all  four  legs  were  nearly  even  in  extent  and 
small  in  compass  the  gait  of  the  animal  was  fairly  regular  and  square. 
Merely  as  a  side  information  these  variations  show  the  regularity  or 
irregularity  of  motion. 

As  mentioned,  this  colt  had  a  peculiar  lack  of  forward  extension 
of  hind  feet  and  his  toes  were  dug  into  the  ground  a  good  deal.  A 
long  toe  behind  increased  such  a  fault.  His  backward  extension  with 
hind  legs  was  marked,  but  the  lack  of  elevation,  or  rather  the  absence 
of  the  power  to  suspend  his  toes  and  thus  make  the  forward  reach  of 
the  hind  count  as  well,  made  his  backward  extension  void,  and  moreover 
put  a  severe  strain  on  the  muscles  of  his  back  and  loins.  Continuing 
through  all  trials  with  the  same  adjustment  of  the  fore  feet,  but  put- 
ting on  a  10  oz.  shoe  instead  of  an  8  oz.,  the  various  changes  behind 
proved  that  where  such  a  serious  fault  of  extension  exists,  due  to 
some  weakness  in  ligaments  or  tendons  or  muscles,  the  easiest  adjust- 
ment is  the  best.  Great  sustained  speed,  however,  cannot  be  expected 
in  any  such  case.  Our  first  duty  is  always  to  remove  the  cause  of  the 
visible  concussions  on  the  ground,  for  these,  cannot,  in  any  event,  be 
conducive  to  either  speed  or  good,  easy  action. 

Longer  toes  of  3^  inches  on  both  hind  increased  the  distance  be- 
tween the  extremities  in  one  instance  to  4.76  feet  and  in  another  to 
4.88  feet,  with  strides  respectively  of  16.54  feet  and  16.61  feet,  the 
angle  being  53°  in  the  first  and  52°  in  the  second  instance.  Shortening 


The  Angle  and  Length  of  Foot  25 1 

the  toes  again  to  3}^  inches,  or  as  much  as  could  be  taken  off,  and  in- 
creasing the  weight  of  hind  shoes,  to  8  oz.  and  squaring  the  toes  of 
same,  gave  better  results.  The  angles  were  lowered  to  52°  and  even 
51°,  with  slightly  swelled  heels  in  shoes.  This  adjustment  tended  to 
increase  the  hock  action  and  to  keep  hind  feet  lifted  somewhat  more 
at  the  toe  till  the  heels  struck  the  ground.  There  was  a  closer  approach 
of  extremities  in  one  trial  with  a  stride  of  15.80  feet,  this  distance 
being  3.85  feet,  and  very  nearly  alike  for  both  diagonal  distances 
(3.83  feet  and  3.87  feet). 

While  we  have  seen  that  a  longer  toe  by  itself  increases  extension, 
in  this  case  it  aggravated  the  trouble  of  dubbing  it  in  the  .ground,  due 
to  some  weakness  of  suspension ;  and  it  became  necessary  through  a 
heavier  shoe,  a  shorter  foot  and  a  squared  toe  on  shoe,  to  increase  the 
elevation  in  order  to  obviate  to  some  degree  the  stopping  of  extension 
by  a  digging  toe.  With  no  calks  on  heels  of  shoes,  but  a  smooth  and 
slightly  swelled  web,  the  forward  extension  was  not  visibly  checked  or 
converted  into  merely  a  higher  action,  but  it  was  allowed  to  proceed  as 
far  forward  as  possible  after  the  squared  and  shorter  toe  had  given  it 
enough  elevation  to  overcome  the  sluggish  suspension  of  the  toe.  In 
both  the  last  two  trials  the  variations  of  the  strides  of  each  leg  from 
the  average  stride  were  much  greater,  of  course,  than  when  the  animal 
was  permitted  to  indulge  in  his  abnormal  backward  extension.  In 
fact,  in  one  trial  the  tracks  behind  showed  two  marks  of  the  shoe  on 
ground,  as  if  the  first  contact  was  corrected  by  the  second  and  closely 
following  one.  This  double  impact  by  the  posterior  half  of  foot  showed 
that  the  horse  was  incapable  of  controlling  his  toe  suspension  as  soon 
as  the  foot  got  near  the  ground.  Since  the  heel,  as  a  rule,  makes  the 
first  contact  with  the  ground  the  weakness  which  prevents  such  a  con- 
tact was  therefore  a  serious  set-back  to  speed  and  action,  but  it  was 
overcome  to  a  certain  degree  in  the  above  described  manner. 

The  lateral  extensions  being  at  nearly  every  trial  quite  satisfactory 
I  present  the  averages  of  the  trial  with  the  nearest  approach  of  ex- 
tremities (3.85  feet)  in  Fig.  185.  Being  a  good  trotter  it  is  worth 
while  to  note  the  lines  of  motion  as  here  given. 

The  following  three  shoeings  and  trials  of  a  colt  by  Directum, 


252  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

previously  discussed,  will  further  show  the  effect  of  shorter  and  longer 
toes,  or  the  difference  in  angle.  The  subject  had  been  subjected  to  a 
few  preliminary  trials  during  the  fall  of  the  previous  year.  He  was  a 
resolute  trotter  and  had  been  trained,  but  had  been  given  up  on  account 
of  weak  hind  ankles.  When  he  came  under  my  notice  this  trouble  was 
not  very  visible  and  though  he  was  not  trained  severely  he  formed 
a  good  subject  for  an  improvement  of  gait.  He  hopped  a  good  deal 
behind  in  the  previous  fall,  but  gradually  improved  and  was  a  fairly 
good  piece  of  mechanism,  as  he  went  on  during  the  time  of  these  trials, 
which  covered  a  period  of  two  months. 

We  start  with  an  even  shoeing,  as  given  in  Fig.  186.  Front  shoes 
are  beveled  on  outside  again  to  guard  against  knee-hitting.  He  had 
too  large  an  outward  angle  of  the  fore  feet,  particularly  the  off  fore 
(10°)  the  near  fore  being  less  (6°).  Behind,  the  heels  had  been 


FIG. 

TGoiuce.6L  one  half 


7l7 

J4 

r  nf 

of  ,                    oh 
A               -r1  A 
>  //*•//?      1      -X  23/+iri.     \ 

vi 

M-W 

'+.+  *                 '*.+  ' 

"eased"  so  as  to  avoid  any  sudden  arrest  of  motion  or  shock  by  high 
or  calked  heels.  The  rolling  motion  shoe  on  hind,  with  forward  and 
backward  level,  was  intended  to  prevent  any  shock  to  hind  ankles. 
The  effect  of  these  shoes  in  Figs.  187  and  188  was  to  increase  exten- 
sion of  the  hind  slightly  over  that  of  the  fore,  this  being  042  inch  in 
the  second  trial  and  about  0.96  inch  in  the  last  trial. 

In  the  first  trial  (Fig.  186)  the  hind  shoes  were  plain  and  straight 
and  no  such  difference  of  extension  between  hind  and  fore  existed. 
Of  course,  the  length  of  toes  had  also  something  to  do  with  this  fact. 
It  rarely  happens  that  either  extremity  exceeds  the  other  in  the  strides 
by  a  fraction  of  an  inch,  but  when  it  does  occur  there  is  likely  to  be 
some  faulty  extension.  In  this  case  we  may  disregard  the  weakness 
of  hind  ankles  and  their  tendency  to  forward  extension  and  we  may 
simply  consider  the  influence  of  the  length  of  toe  and  the  angle,  which 
is  our  object  in  view. 


The  Angle  and  Length  of  Foot 


253 


The  first  trial  under  equal  conditions  between  fore  and  hind  feet 
produced  unsatisfactory  results.  The  subject  was  not  at  ease,  he 
hopped  and  shifted  and  recovered  and  the  variations  of  the  strides  of 
each  leg  were  great  in  extent  because  of  this  lack  of  balance. 

Retaining  the  same  angles  in  the  second  trial  (Fig.  187)  we  length- 
en the  near  fore  and  the  near  hind  on  the  supposition  that  a  longer  fore 


37/6 in. -toes- &/ 


£)( tens i on3  :) 


2.S2//7. 


FIG.  186.' 


nF-oTi   =      3.68ft. 

Viff.        =          .36ft. 

or  +.32  in. 
Stride.    =     i  5.  8  fir. 
pist.      -       3.87ft. 


2.82  in.  . 
4.7+  in  \ 


.  187. 


of  -n  7)  =  3.76  ft. 
nf-oh  =  3.63  ft. 


f-t. 


or 

Stride  =      /6.62ft. 
~        3.69K 


3  in. 


foot  will  stop  extension  and  a  longer  nind  foot  will  increase  it.  That 
is  borne  out  by  the  resulting  extensions  of  Fig.  187.  It  is  also  apparent 
that  by  these  changes  in  toe  lengths  the  distance  between  fore  and  hind 
feet  has  been  decreased  from  3.87  feet  to  3.69  feet,  or  2.16  inches,  de- 
spite the  fact  of  a  greater  stride  (16.62  feet),  which  generally  causes 
a  somewhat  greater  separation. 

By  still  further  increasing  the  conditions  that  helped  to  bring  about 


254 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


the  change  we  now  come  to  the  last  shoeing  of  Fig.  188.  Here  the 
near  fore  is  stopped  still  more  by  a  slightly  steeper  angle  and  the  near 
hind  is  modified  in  its  adjustment  by  a  lower  angle  and  a  heavier  shoe ; 
and  the  off  hind  by  a  difference  in  toe  length  of  M.G  inch,  this  being 
a  little  more  than  in  Fig.  187  (3%6:35/iG). 

The  results  speak  for  themselves  in  the  average  extensions  of  the 
four  feet  and  the  distances  between  the  diagonal  pairs.    Through  in- 


F/G./83, 


Extensions  : 


4-.Q2 
in 


FI6.I88. 


of-nh  =  3.  51  ft 
rtf-oh  =  M?// 
Dtff  =  ,07ft 


Stride    =    15.5  ft 
=       3  #8  ft 


+.02  in. 
2.  82  in 
/.20//1 


i  in.  greater  ( — v 
extension  of  hind.      ±    }. 


1. 8  in 


of-nh-'  3..54-H. 
Diff.     =      .02  ft. 

or. 2+  in. 
Sfrfc/e  ^ 
Hist. 


2.8  2  in 


creased  length  of  off  hind,  the  forward  reach  of  that  leg  was  also  in- 
creased, while  through  the  greater  angle  the  reach  of  near  fore  was 
also  checked,  so  that  we  have  a  greater  approach  between  these  two 
feet  (3.44  feet).  Again,  the  increased  reach  of  near  hind  also  re- 
duces the  distance  between  it  and  the  off  fore,  so  that  there  also  we 
have  a  closer  approach  (3.51  feet),  giving  us  a  smaller  general  aver- 
age distance  of  only  3.48  feet  as  compared  with  3.69  feet  of  Fig.  187. 


The  Angle  and  Length  of  Foot  255 

In  the  last  trial  we  have  again  an  increased  stride  of  the  hind  over 
fore  by  0.36  inch,  due  no  doubt  to  the  condition  of  hind  ankles,  or 
their  habitual  forward  reach  to  avoid  a  shock.  As  mentioned  before, 
it  is  quite  uncommon  to  have  this  occur,  and  when  it  reappears  it  points 
to  some  weakness  in  the  subject's  mechanism,  or  to  an  abnormal  atti- 
tude, or  to  a  tendency  to  hop  and  run  with  hind  legs.  Such  a  difference 
is,  however,  only  temporary  if  the  animal  continues  to  trot  squarely. 

The  animal  was  trotting  pretty  well  and  of  the  three  trials  that  of 
Fig.  187  seems  to  have  been  the  one  showing  the  best  movements.  In 
it  also  is  found  the  least  extent  in  the  total  variations  of  the  individual, 
.strides  from  the  general  average,  while  in  Fig.  188  these  variations  are 
increased  slightly,  but  are  not  so  abnormal  as  in  Fig.  186.  Excessive 
variations  mean  that  the  efforts  at  each  stride  are  forced  and  labored, 
due  to  some  inadequate  or  deficient  balancing.  Whether  as  a  temporary 
or  permanent  adjustment,  the  inequalities  in  angles  or  lengths  of  toe, 
or  in  the  shape  and  weight  of  shoes,  will  often  cor'rect  the  natural  or 
acquired  defects  of  locomotion.  Forcing  the  subject  when  going  badly 
in  the  hope  of  training  him  out  of  defects  is  not  a  method  worthy  of 
imitation  because  of  its  crudeness  and  unreasonableness.  A  proper  in- 
vestigation of  such  a  gait  avoids  much  loss  of  time  and  much 
aggravation. 

As  before  mentioned,  most  of  these  experiments  were  made  on  a 
slightly  downhill  course,  and  I  deem  it  to  be  a  good  test  for  proper 
balance  to  have  the  animal  tried  on  such  an  incline.  Let  us  take,  for 
instance,  the  last  trial  which  was  trotted  uphill  by  this  Directum  colt. 
He  moved  resolutely  and  seemed  to  be  going  a  little  better.  Fig.  189 
will  show  the  extensions.  The  stride  (14.81  feet)  was  shorter  and  the 
distance  between  the  extremities  greater  (3.55)  by  0.84  inch  than  in 
trial  of  Fig.  188  (3.48)  ;  and  again,  the  hind  legs  showed  the  same 
slightly  greater  stride  than  the  fore  by  0.36  inch.  It  will  also  be  seen 
that  the  extensions  were  the  reverse  of  those  of  Fig.  188  and  similar 
to  those  of  Fig.  187,  but  more  uniform  than  the  latter.  All  in  all, 
therefore,  the  two  ways  of  going  are  worth  comparing  and  may  lead 
at  times  to  suggestions  for  a  change  in  shoeing.  I  will  not  go  so  far 
as  to  advise  such  double  trials  in  each  case,  but  where  a  horse  proves 


256  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


to  be  better  gaited  uphill  than  downhill  it  may  help  to  solve  the  problem 
of  balance  by  ascertaining  the  facts  of  such  a  better  locomotion.  In  a 
later  chapter  this  will  become  more  evident. 

A  filly  by  Sidney  Dillon  may  serve  as  a  further  illustration  of  a 
change  in  angles  and  toe-lengths.  Fig.  190  will  give  two  consecutive 
shoeings  about  a  month  apart.  From  equal  conditions  in  A  we  change 
in  B  the  toe-lengths  in  front  to  3^  inches  and  the  angles  from  49°  to 

FIGJ9°  **.w. 

-   ~£OG      —  3^/8  m 


shorter  "than  in  A 
/S-O2  -ft 
/2  -f-t 


Extensions  : 


07-    7.8m. 


50°,  and  also  increase  the  weight  of  the  shoes.  The  shape  of  the  front 
shoes  is  also  slightly  altered  and  a  crease  at  the  toe  is  intended  to  pre- 
vent slipping,  such  as  showed  on  the  ground  of  the  trial  of  A. 

Now,  this  longer  toe  and  higher  heel,  together  with  the  greater 
weight  of  shoe,  checked  in  every  way  the  forward  extension  of  the  fore 
legs.  They  acted,  as  it  were,  like  a  pair  of  stilts.  A  lower  heel  by  itself 
might  have  increased  their  forward  extension.  Again,  the  higher  heels 


The  Angle  and  LengtJi  of  Foot  257 

or  greater  angle  behind,  together  with  the  swelled  heels  of  shoe,  were 
intended  to  check  the  forward  extension  of  the  hind  and  to  increase 
their  elevation  of  action;  but  the  heels  of  shoes  in  "B"  being  much 
shorter  than  those  in  "A",  the  forward  extension  of  hind  was  not 
checked  as  much  as  expected,  because  such  shorter  heels  gave  the  foot  a 
chance  to  reach  farther  before  striking  the  ground.  Hence,  there  ap- 
pears again  a  reverse  extension  behind  which  was  found  to  be  the 
filly's  habitual  and  faulty  extension  under  Fig.  150-155.  We  also  find, 
in  consequence  of  these  two  results,  that  the  average  distance  between 
the  extremities  is  about  the  same  in  both  "A"  and  "B"  (3.11-3.12), 
while  we  would  expect  a  greater  separation  with  the  longer  stride  of 
"B"  (15.02)  than  with  the  shorter  stride  of  "A"  (13.5).  The  principal 
cause  of  this  approach  of  the  extremities  was  the  checked  extension  of 
the  fore,  and  this  also  tended  toward  an  increase  of  hind  extension. 
This  case,  like  many  others,  proved  to  me  the  necessity  of  finding  the 
faults  of  the  locomotion  of  a  horse  in  order  to  get  nearer  a  proper 
balance.  The  main  purpose  of  this  shoeing  was  to  bring  about  a  more 
evenly  distributed  action  between  the  fore  and  hind  legs,  and  the  result 
in  gait,  though  deficient  in  the  respective  extensions,  showed  the  action 
to  be  so.  The  case  was  discussed  under  Figs.  150-155  in  the  previous 
chapter,  and  we  saw  in  the  last  trial  there  that  the  heel  calks,  squared 
toes  and  heavier  shoes  on  the  hind  feet  caused  the  latter  to  attain  a 
greater  elevation  and  an  action  more  in  unison  with  that  of  the  fore. 
The  reader  is  now  referred  to  Fig.  132  in  a  previous  chapter  where 
calks  appeared  on  the  web  of  the  front  shoes  near  the  heels  and  also 
at  the  heels  of  the  hind  shoes.  The  stride  was  14.01  feet  and  the  aver- 
age' distance  between  the  extremities  was  3.32  feet.  The  subsequent 
shoeing  of  that  subject,  just  three  weeks  later,  is  seen  in  Fig.  191. 
Here  we  have  the  extension  of  the  fore  released  from  the  check  of  the 
heel  calks,  and  so  likewise  the  hind,  which  latter  have  beveled  heels  in- 
stead of  calks.  By  such  a  radical  change  the  habit  of  excessive  hind  for- 
ward extension  was  readily  assumed  again  by  the  subject,  as  the  dia- 
gram will  exemplify.  It  proves,  again,  that  a  gait  should  be  thoroughly 
looked  into  before  we  can  have  any  idea  how  a  proper  balance  can  be 
accomplished,  and  also  that  such  an  investigation  will  always  enable  us 


258  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

to  recognize  more  clearly  and  quickly  the  possible  remedy  for  faulty 
gaits. 

There  is  in  Fig.  191  a  decrease  in  angle  of  off  hind  which,  with  the 
heavier  shoe,  is  responsible  for  its  extension  over  that  of  the  near  hind. 
In  front  we  have  simply  a  longer  toe  on  near  fore,  which,  with  the  same 
angle,  checks  the  extension  of  that  longer  foot,  but  the  evidence  of 
that  check  is  lacking  because  of  the  excessive  extension  of  the  off  hind. 
It  is  sometimes  a  little  confusing  to  have  an  excessive  extension  of  one 
hind  leg  influence  its  correlated  fore  leg,  as  in  this  case.  Here  we  have 
two  hind  legs  with  indifferent  action  and  with  that  tendency  to  poke 
forward  just  above  the  ground,  and  while  in  the  former  trial  under 
Fig.  132  the  calks  on  hind  shoes  prevented  too  great  an  extension,  the 
present  shoes  with  beveled  heels  encourage  it.  We  have  now  an 
abnormal  approach  of  fore  and  hind  feet  (2.69  feet).  The  fonvard 
reach  of  the  off  hind  has  its  origin  also  more  or  less  in  a  weak  ankle, 
but,  as  I  said,  the  extension  is  so  abnormal  (10.62  inches)  that  its  in- 
fluence is  felt  on  the  near  fore,  in  spite  of  that  foot  being  made  longer 
to  check  it ;  yet  the  near  fore  is  comparatively  little  in  advance  of  the  off 
fore,  when  we  consider  the  inequality  behind. 

Mention  should  here  be  made  of  an  observation  which  was  already 
alluded  to  under  Fig.  175,  namely,  that  a  shorter  toe  with  a  higher 
heel  or  greater  angle  of  foot  has  not,  as  it  would  seem,  the  double  re- 
straint on  extension,  such  as  each  of  these  conditions  effects,  but 
rather  has  often  a  decided  increase  of  extension  as  a  result.  Reference 
is  made  to  a  case  under  Figs.  145,  146,  147  and  148,  where  a  squared 
toe  was  changed  to  a  round  toe  to  check  extension  of  the  foot  with  the 
squared  toe;  and  also  to  Figs.  164  and  166,  where  erroneously  the 
squared  toe  and  higher  angle,  together  with  the  longer  toe,  was  the 
adjustment  of  the  hind  foot  which  had  been  found  to  be  of  greater  ex- 
tension before. 

The  effect  of  a  higher  heel  is  an  increased  pointing  back  or  an 
earlier  contact  with  the  ground  than  a  lower  heel  would  have.  This  is 
based  on  the  facts  as  photography  has  revealed  them,  namely,  that  the 
heel  of  the  foot  lands  on  the  ground  before  the  toe.  Now,  with  a 
shorter  toe  (or  as  in  Fig.  175,  with  a  squared  toe)  than  the  opposite 


The  Angle  and  Length  of  Foot  259 

foot  the  leverage  from  heel  to  toe  will  not  be  as  great,  and  hence  it  may 
happen  that  the  action  will  be  quicker  and  more  elevated.  The  greater 
ease  with  which  such  a  foot  is  hurled  up  may  then  induce  it  to  reach 
forward  more.  Besides,  because  such  a  foot  has  not,  by. the  nature  of 
its  shape,  the  ability  to  take  hold  of  the  ground  with  the  toe  as  the  foot 
with  the  longer  toe,  it  follows  that  the  propulsion  is  left  more  or  less 
to  the  foot  with  longer  toe  and  the  lower  heel.  It  is  always,  therefore, 
a  characteristic  of  the  foot  that  stays  behind  its  opposite  mate  to  leave 
a  deeper  toe  impression  on  the  ground  than  the  foot  that  travels  ahead 
of  it. 

A  case  of  such  a  hind  propulsion  was  given  under  Fig.  176,  the 
off  hind  having  a  squared  toe  and  swelled  heel  shoe  and  a  shorter  toe, 
which  was  corrected  in  the  shoeing  of  Fig.  178.  The  near  hind  at 
every  foot  print  left  a  deep  toe  mark,  showing  it  to  be  the  foot  whose 
slower  leverage  from  heel  to  toe  compelled  it  to  attend  to  all  the  propul- 
sion behind,  while  the  off  foot  hopped  and  extended  forward  exces- 
sively. It  is,  therefore,  always  advisable  to  equalize  this  leverage  at  toe 
by  studying  not  only  the  difference  of  extension,  but  also  the  toe  im- 
prints of  each  foot.  If  it  is  necessary  to  make  a  difference  between  the 
adjustment  of  two  opposite  feet  it  should  be  effected  first  by  the  differ- 
ence of  the  lengths  of  toes  and  angles  of  the  feet  before  the  difference 
in  the  shape  of  the  shoe  is  considered. 

While  all  cases  are  amenable  to  certain  principles  which  I  have 
tried  to  expound,  each  individual  horse  has  its  faults  and  shortcomings, 
so  that  only  by  a  plan  of  its  gait  can  the  proper  adjustment  be  found. 
The  apparent  contradictions  of  the  principles  involved,  which  at  times 
may  puzzle  the  investigator,  will  always  have  their  origin  in  some 
grievous  and  permanent  defect  in  the  equine  mechanism,  and  an  analysis 
of  a  gait  should  precede  any  changes  in  shoeing.  After  that  the  first 
change  should  always  be  in  the  shape  of  the  foot ;  that  is,  in  its  length 
of  toe  and  height  of  heel.  Too  much  attention  is  given  to  the  mere 
weight  of  shoes,  and  while  this  consideration  is  well  worth  taking  into 
account  the  shape  of  the  foot  should  precede  even  the  shape  of  the 
shoe. 
•  ,  Although  I  have  regretted  that  my  opportunities  did  not  include 


260  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

very  many  pacers,  there  has  been  enough  evidence  among  the  few 
whose  gaits  were  investigated  and  changed  to  make  the  application  of 
the  same  general  principles  as  rational  as  with  the  gait  of  the  trotter. 
As  far  as  the  shoeing  is  concerned  I  can  not,  therefore,  offer  any  sim- 
ilar examples  of  the  effects  of  conditions  that  prevailed  in  the  experi- 
ments with  the  trotters,  but  in  the  next  chapter  the  pacing  gait  will  be 
considered  to  a  limited  extent  when  the  bothersome  single- footing 
appears  as  the  connecting  link  between  the  two  gaits  of  the  standard 
horse. 

Warning  has  already  been  given  against  too  many  changes  at  one 
time  with  the  idea  of  effecting  a  ready  remedy  once  for  all.  Many  of 
my  experiments  were  not  free  from  this  error,  because  the  impatience 
of  others  and  the  lack  of  time  for  development  urged  me  to  do  so. 
Balance,  however,  is  a  matter  of  slow  evolution,  especially  where  any 
faults  of  comformation  exist ;  and  if  permanently  beneficial  results  are 
sought  time  remains  the  biggest  factor  of  the  work. 

Although  the  considerations  of  this  chapter  on  the  length  of  toe 
and  the  height  of  heel,  or  rather  the  angle  of  the  foot,  follow  those  on 
the  motion  of  the  horse  and  the  weight  and  shape  of  the  shoe,  they  are 
given  rather  as  a  review  of  the  whole  subject  in  hand.  Great  stress 
must  be  laid  on  the  prime  importance  of  the  foot  of  the  horse.  The 
subject  has,  however,  been  treated  so  fully  by  its  originator,  David 
Roberge,  that  little  can  be  added  to  its  main  features. 

There  is  one  point  of  practice  which  seems  to  stand  forth  promi- 
netly  in  every  word  of  that  master  of  the  forge.  For,  not  only  was  he 
master  at  the  forge,  but  he  was  master  on  the  floor  as  well,  and  this  bids 
me  voice  my  own  view  on  the  usual  way  of  shoeing,  namely,  of  leaving 
the  most  important  part  of  the  work — the  leveling  and  adjusting  of  the 
hoof — to  someone  else,  commonly  known  as  the  floorman.  Any  good 
mechanic  can  turn  out  a  good  shoe,  but  only  a  good  farrier  can  fit  the 
shoe  to  the  foot  and  prepare  the  foot  to  receive  it.  One  man  should  do 
the  whole  job,  or  at  least  superintend  it  properly,  because  two  men 
working  separately  cannot  do  good  work.  One  unnecessary  lick  of  the 
rasp  will  often  spoil  the  nicety  of  adjustment  to  effect  balance. 

The  many  experiments  with  unequal  conditions,  due  in  part  to  un- 


The  Angle  and  Length  of  Foot  261 

equal  conditions  of  the  gait  in  question,  have,  I  hope,  made  this  im- 
portant subject  still  clearer,  and  have  impressed  the  reader  with  the 
importance  of  the  two  prime  causes  of  balance,  namely,  length  of 
toe  and  angle  of  foot.  Without  careful  attention  to  these  two  prime 
factors  of  balance  at  all  times,  we  are  apt  to  land  in  a  maze  of  con- 
fusion and  contradiction.  In  a  measure  we  might  say  of  the  foot  and 
balance  as  we  say  of  the  cents  and  dollars :  "Take  care  of  the  shape 
of  the  foot  and  the  balance  takes  care  of  itself." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE  HARMONY  IN  A  GAIT. 


I. — THE  PRIME  CONDITION  OF  AN  EASY  AND  REGULAR  GAIT. 

No  trotter  can  trot  and  no  pacer  can  pace  well  unless  the  two  dis- 
tances between  the  feet  that  move  together  are  practically  the  same 
when  the  feet  are  set  on  the  ground.  Whether  one  pair  moves  ahead  of 
the  other  a  reasonable  distance  is  of  some,  but  of  less,  importance  to 
the  regularity  of  either  gait,  as  long  as  the  correlated  feet  show  no 
marked  difference  in  their  respective  separations.  We  have  seen  that 
no  two  such  distances  are  exactly  alike  at  each  stride,  for  the  eagerness 
of  the  horse,  the  urging  of  the  driver  and  the  slight  unevenness  of  the 
ground,  all  make  the  resulting  exertions  of  the  animal  vary  in  extent ; 
but  we  can  depend  on  the  average  of  a  number  of  strides  as  indicating 
the  tendencies  of  extension  and  propulsion.  What  is  true  of  these 
distances  is  likewise  true  of  the  individual  strides. 

Take,  for  instance,  the  trial  of  a  McKinney  mare,  with  an  average 
stride  of  18.91  ft.,  and  with  total  variations  of  individual  strides  from 
this  average  comparatively  small,  namely : 

near  -  Fore  -  off  near  -  Hind  -  off 

-4-  1.98 — 2.13     -f-  1.85 — 2.00     4-  2.25 — 2.40     -j-  2-21 — 2O1 

Total  scope 
4.11  3.85  4-65  4-22 

The  fore  showed  from  18.55  ft-  to  T94O  ft.  and  the  hind  from 
18.50  ft.  to  19.35  ft-  as  lowest  and  highest  strides.  Now,  as  to  the 
important  equality  of  the  distance  between  the  feet  of  the  two  pairs 
as  they  land  on  the  ground  together,  we  have : 

262 


The  Harmony  in  a  Gait  263 

Distance  of  correlated  feet. 

n  f  -  o  h  o  f  -  n  h 

3.94  feet  3.97  feet 

as  the  two  averages,  with  smallest  and  greatest  distances,  as  follows: 

3-6o,4-i5  370,4-35 

The  difference  between  the  averages  is,  therefore,  0.03  feet,  or 
0.36  inch,  a  negligible  distance,  which  shows  both  sides  to  be  regular 
in  extension.  It  should  be  mentioned  that  there  was  a  preference  of 
the  off  fore  to  precede  the  near  fore  by  0.18  feet,  or  2.16  inches,  and 
likewise  the  near  hind  (the  diagonal  mate  of  off  fore)  preceded  the  off 
hind  by  0.15  feet  or  1.8  inch,  the  difference  being  as  found,  or  0.36 
inch  greater  for  the  distance  between  off  fore  and  near  hind. 

As  far  as  the  overstep  is  concerned,  it  would  naturally  be  greater 
on  the  side  where  hind  foot  has  a  greater  extension  and  fore  foot  ahead 
of  it  has  a  lesser  extension,  as  in  this  case  would  be  the  near  side.  That 
difference  here  amounts  to  nearly  2  inches,  which  in  view  of  the  nearly 
equal  separations  of  fore  and  hind  feet  (3.94  and  3.97)  becomes  also 
a  negligible  quantity. 

Regularity  of  gait  is  not  bound  by  an  exact  equality  of  the  distances 
given  and  must  at  all  times  be  allowed  some  elastic  form  or  spring  in 
its  progress.  We  are  not  dealing  with  an  automobile  with  its  stiff,  me- 
tallic component  parts  of  machinery,  but  with  the  tissues  of  a  highly 
organized  animal  locomotion.  Let  me,  therefore,  bring  before  the 
reader  again  the  excellent  pictures  of  a  few  horses  in  motion  of  recent 
date,  taken  remarkably  well  by  Mr.  Ted.  Hansom  of  New  York. 

Fig.  192  gives  the  trotter  Lord  Derby  2:0534,  with  his  two  cor- 
related feet — near  fore  and  off  hind — on  the  ground,  ready  to  make  a 
supreme  effort  to  hurl  himself  into  the  air  while  the  other  pair  of  feet 
are  getting  ready  to  extend  to  their  utmost  reach.  The  position  is  in- 
teresting in  that  it  shows  the  difference  between  fore  and  hind  motion 
as  discussed  in  Chapter  VI  under  Fig.  156.  The  easier  unfolding  of 
hock  joint  and  its  lower  elevation  as  compared  with  the  greater  exer- 
tion necessary  for  the  front  flexion  is  well  shown  here  in  its  beginning. 

The  next  position,  a  fraction  of  a  second  later,  is  seen  in  Fig.  193, 
the  California  stallion  Idolita  2:09*4  being  the  subject.  Here  we 


264  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

have  the  danger  point  of  interference  well  marked,  the  near  hind  being 
in  close  pursuit  of  the  retreating  near  fore.  The  animal  is  in  the  air, 
but  not  at  his  highest  elevation  from  the  ground.  A  better  example  of 
the  equal  forward  and  backward  swing  of  the  legs  could  hardly  be  given 
from  life.  While  the  near  fore  and  off  hind  show  nearly  the  same 
distance  between  them  as  it  \vas  on  the  ground,  the  other  pair  again 
bring  out,  by  their  temporarily  greater  separation,  the  composite  un- 
folding and  descent  of  the  fore  leg  and  foot,  this  distance  being  about 
one  and  one-quarter  times  as  great  as  that  between  the  other  two  feet ; 
but  when  they  also  strike  the  ground  they  will  be  closer  together  than 
at  present. 

Our  next  glance  falls  on  Kingmond  2:09  in  .Fig.  194.  Though 
the  position  of  the  feet  is  reversed  it  is  in  direct  succession  to  the  pre- 
ceding ones.  The  off  fore  is  well  beyond  the  point  of  interference  in 
its  upward  flight  for  flexion,  while  the  hock  action  of  its  correlated  mate 
or  near  hind  is  at  its  greatest  height ;  and  the  off  hind  follows  the  out- 
stretched near  fore  in  its  descent,  which  looks  like  an  unbending  col- 
umn or  prop  to  support  the  tremendous  impact  of  the  horse  with  the 
ground  caused  by  the  weight  and  speed  of  the  subject.  It  is  a  good 
example  of  the  relative  immobility  of  the  forequarters  and  of  the  fore 
leg  as  a  straight  lever  of  the  whole  body  for  the  next  hurling  forward. 
It  looks  as  if  the  off  hind  would  land  sooner  than  the  near  fore,  but 
if  we  recall  the  lines  of  motion  heretofore  discussed  under  Fig.  136  it 
will  become  evident  how  the  fore  with  its  more  vertical  and  quicker 
motion  will  reach  the  ground  at  practically  the  same  moment  as  the 
hind  will  with  its  more  horizontal  and  slower  motion.  The  fore  leg  has 
always  ttie  momentum  of  its  descent  to  accelerate  it,  while  the  hind  has 
more  of  a  horizontal  momentum  of  less  degree. 

The  picture  of  two  pacers  are  also  offered  in  Figs.  195  and  196,  as 
exemplifying  the  features  of  that  gait.  Illustrations  for  this  purpose 
were  hard  to  get,  and  though  Dan  Patch  1:55  %  should  grace  these 
pages  as  an  illustrious  example,  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  no  good 
picture  could  be  procured. 

Anaconda  2:01^  and  Morning  Star  2:04^  are,  however, 
sufficiently  representative  of  that  lateral  mode  of  locomotion  to  illustrate 


m  :  I  ; 


b°  a 
«  % 


FIG  193 


IDOUTA   2:09^. 

By  Mendocino,  dam  Edith,  by  George  Wilkes. 


FIG.  94. 


KlNGMOND   2:09. 

Bv  King  Darlington,  dam  Rosamond,  by  Red  Wilkes 


FIG.  195. 


ANACONDA  2:01^  pacing,  2:09^  trotting. 
By  Knight,  rlam  by  Algona. 


FIG.  196. 


MORNING  STAR  2:04^.  (p.) 
By  Star  Pointer,  dam  Fanny  Egthorne,  by  Egthorne. 


The  Harmony  in  a  Gait  265 

a  few  points  in  question.  Fig.  195  shows  the  pacer  in  a  position  of  the 
pendulum-like  swing  of  the  fore  and  hind  legs,  as  discussed  under 
Figs.  15  and  16.  It  also  brings  out  well  the  danger  point  of  "cross- 
firing,"  although  in  the  gait  of  this  pacer  there  was  no  such  interference. 
We  have  here  also  the  observation  made  in  Fig.  26  of  the  gait  of  a 
pacer  in  ten  consecutive  attitudes.  Here  as  well  as  there  the  correlated 
hind  foot  leaves  the  ground  a  little  sooner  than  its  forward  mate.  That 
is,  in  this  instance  the  near  hind  is  well  up  while  the  near  fore  is  just 
above  the  ground.  In  the  group  of  the  three  trotters  under  Figs.  22, 
23  and  24  we  notice  the  opposite  movement,  namely,  the  fore  leaves  the 
ground  a  little  ahead  of  its  correlated  and  opposite  hind  foot,  although 
in  Clay,  Fig.  25,  this  is  not  the  case.  This  seems  to  be  dependent  on 
the  forward  action,  which  in  the  trotter  is  generally  higher  and  bolder 
than  in  the  pacer.  The  easy,  low  and  apparently  more  frictionless 
movements  of  the  pacer  seem  to  enable  him  to  use  the  fore  legs  more 
readily  as  propellers  as  well  as  props  and  levers.  In  Fig.  195  we  see 
the  toe  of.  off  hind  foot  pointing  down  still,  showing  that  the  leg  is  not 
stretched  out  to  its  full  length  or  ready  for  the  contact  with  the  ground ; 
for,  the  heel  of  the  foot  must  be  the  first  to  land. 

Another  instance  of  the  low  movements  in  front  as  well  as  behind 
is  shown  in  Fig.  196,  Morning  Star  2:04^  being  the  object  of  our 
gaze  just  as  the  animal  is  in  mid-air.  The  picture  is  well  taken  and 
proves  that,  although  a  pacer's  movements  are  lower  than  a  trotter's, 
the  elevation  of  the  horse  from  the  ground  is  in  many  cases  not  any 
less.  While  not  so  fully  extended  as  Anaconda,  this  subject  must  have 
good  lines  of  motion.  We  can  notice,  likewise,  the  equal  backward 
and  forward  extension  on  which  so  much  depends  for  an  even  fall  of 
the  feet  and  an  equal  distance  between  the  two  pairs  of  correlated 
feet. 

All  of  these  five  horses  show  a  smooth  and  even  action  and  ex- 
tension and  impress  the  beholder  as  being  well  balanced  and  one  can 
almost  hear  the  regularity  of  the  fall  of  their  feet.  They  serve  as  good 
living  examples  of  the  subject  under  discussion,  namely,  that  a  good 
square  gait  must  have  for  its  foundation  the  practical  equality  of  the 
two  distances  between  the  two  pairs  of  correlated  feet.  The  average 


266  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

distance  of  one  pair  must  not  differ  materially  from  the  average  dis- 
tance of  the  other  pair. 

This  regularity  of  motion,  due  to  the  equal  distance  between  the 
two  pairs  of  correlated  feet,  is  readily  seen  when  the  camera  arrests  its 
continuity;  but  since  we  cannot  always  bring  into  use  this  marvelous 
invention  and  since  the  eye  cannot  follow  the  motion  with  any  accuracy, 
we  must  call  to  our  assistance  our  sense  of  hearing.  The  ear  will 
easily  detect  a  lack  of  rhythm  in  the  uniform  fall  of  the  feet  and  their 
concussion  with  the  ground.  Long  before  such  an  event,  however,  the 
gait  may  have  been  in  disorder  through  this  inequality  of  the  correlated 
distances,  but  when  the  ear  is  offended  it  is  time  that  we  look  into  the 
matter  as  in  the  next  chapter. 

II. — SINGLE-FOOTING — AN  ALARM  OF  A  DISORDERED  BALANCE 

The  peculiar  consecutive  fall  of  the  four  feet,  so  pleasing  to  the 
ear  of  the  rider,  but  so  extremely  irritating  to  a  driver,  and  known  very 
properly  as  "single-footing,"  is  often  the  result  of  a  pacing  tendency 
in  the  trotter,  but  more  often  the  outcome  of  a  bad  adjustment  of  foot 
and  shoe.  I  am  always  opposed  to  the  forcing  methods,  by  which  is 
meant  the  continued  training  and  driving  in  the  face  of  such  an  indi- 
cation of  a  bad  balance.  In  the  beginning  an  appeal  was  made  for  sane 
and  sensible  principles  in  the  development  of  the  standard  horse.  Many 
trainers  do  not  recognize  the  first  symptoms  of  this  mixed  gait  and  go 
on  training  all  the  harder  to  eradicate  it.  Single-footing,  like  hopping 
or  any  interference  or  any  concussion  or  sliding  on  the  ground — in 
fact,  any  indication  that  the  locomotion  of  the  horse  is  impeded,  in  any 
manner  by  some  fault  of  the  horse  or  by  some  error  of  his  lord  and 
master — should  at  once  arrest  all  further  development  until  a  clear  idea 
of  the  commotion  or  disturbance  can  be  had. 

The  single-foot  as  it  appears  now  and  then  in  the  trotter  and  pacer 
is  not  the  genuine  article,  but  is  a  sufficient  approach  to  it  to  cause  ex- 
treme annoyance.  The  real  single- foot  appears  in  Fig.  197,  the  positions 
being  taken  from  the  book  that  originated  from  the  photographic  ex- 
periments at  the  once  famous  Palo  Alto  Farm.  This  gait  may  be  de~ 


The  Harmony  in  a  Gait 


267 


scribed  as  being  midway  between  trotting  and  pacing,  for  it  may  be  said 
that  the  front  legs  trot  while  the  hind  ones  pace.  There  is  a  good  but 
rather  vertical  front  action,  while  behind  the  action  is  not  only  low  but 
more  forward.  In  its  purity  the  single-foot  is  a  delightful  saddle  gait, 
but  in  its  adulterated  form,  mixed  more  or  less  with  the  trotting  or 
pacing  gait,  it  is  an  abominable  hybrid  motion.  It  seems  to  originate 
from  the  same  causes  such  as  bring  about  a  high  vertical  action  in  front 


and  a  low  and  forward  action  behind.  Roughly  stated  it  is  caused  by  a 
high  angle  of  front  feet  combined  with  a  low  angle  behind,  but  weight 
and  shape  of  shoe,  as  well  as  length  of  toe,  are  contributory  to  its  de- 
velopment. 

Let  us  examine  the  six  positions  of  a  single-footing  horse  in  Fig. 
197,  taken  originally  from  life  and  then  re-drawn.  On  account  of  the 
low  and  forward  action  of  the  hind  feet  we  may  say  that  they  come 
in  contact  with  the  ground  before  the,  front  feet  do.  In  the  first  po- 


268 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


sition  hind  foot  A  has  reached  the  ground  before  fore  foot  B  has  been 
removed  and  before  the  off  fore  C  has  made  a  contact  with  the  soiL 
In  the  third  position,  C  has  just  come  to  the  ground.  Note  the  dis- 
tance between  A  and  C  and  the  difference  of  inclination  of  the  legs  due 
to  their  independent  actions.  While  D  and  B  are  off  the  ground  in  the 
second  position  note  the  difference  in  elevation,  which  seems  highest  in 
the  fifth  position.  Directly  after  that  D  lands  on  ground,  while  its 
diagonally  opposite  mate  B  is  about  to  descend,  as  in  the  last  position. 
The  pictures  are  meant  to  illustrate  the  difference  in  elevation  and 
action  between  fore  and  hind  feet  and  to  show  that  such  a  difference 


f/G. 


may  at  any  time,  through  faulty  balancing,  bring  about  in  a  more  or 
less  aggravated  form  what  is  known  as  single-footing.  There  is  among 
all  the  feet  no  connection  in  pairs,  as  in  the  trot  or  pace,  such  as  have 
been  termed  the  correlated  feet,  and  each  one  lands  more  or  less  inde- 
pendently on  the  ground.  As  before  mentioned,  the  characteristic  of 
this  motion  is  the  difference  in  action  and  elevation  between  fore  and 
hind  extremities.  To  make  it  clearer,  a  comparison  with  the  attitudes  of 
the  flying  trot  are  given  in  Figs.  198  and  199.  The  distinctly  direct  and 
equalized  motion  of  both  fore  and  hind  extremities,  as  compared  with 


The  Harmony  in  a  Gait  269 

the  positions  of  Fig.  197,  become  immediately  apparent  to  the  observer. 
The  drawings  were  orginally  made  from  photographs,  as  the  open 
mouth  of  the  animal  will  indicate.  In  Fig.  199  we  see  A  meeting  B, 
but  the  latter  is  not  found  on  the  ground  but  well  up,  because  the  mo- 
tion of  B  is  not  independent  of  the  other  feet,  but  intimately  related  or 
correlated  to  that  of  the  diagonally  opposite  hind  foot  D.  With  the 
horse  fully  in  the  air  there  is  visible  in  each  of  these  positions  the  equal 
closing  and  opening  between  the  fore  and  the  hind  on  each  side.  The 
hind  foot  A  passes  under  the  fore  foot  B  on  the  same  side,  as  has  been 
discussed  before. 

Again,  in  the  second  position  of  Fig.  199  the  hind  foot  A,  though 
lower  in  elevation  than  its  correlated  fore  foot  C,  is  not  quite  extended, 
so  that  while  the  /ore  foot  C  is  descending  the  hind  foot  has  still  time 
to  straighten  out  and  strike  the  ground  heel  first.  This  shows  that  there 
is  a  harmonious  action  between  the  two  feet  that  travel  together, 
for  these  must  strike  the  ground  at  the  same  time.  The  time-beat  of 
the  trot  and  the  pace  should  be:  one,  two — one,  two;  while  the  time- 
beat  of  the  single- foot,  or  any  of  its  imperfect  variations,  is :  one,  two, 
three,  four.  And  again,  to  make  either  the  trot  or  the  pace  quite  regular 
the  two  time-beats  must  not  be  like  those  of  a  limping  pendulum,  with 
the  accent  on  the  "one"  or  the  "two." 

Assuming  that  the  two  horses  given  in  Fig.  198  were  one  and  the 
same  animal,  we  should,  therefore,  have  the  distance  A  C  =  D  B,  or  at 
least  the  averages  of  each  for  a  number  of  strides  should  be  alike  or 
very  nearly  so. 

Let  me  bring  before  the  reader  two  cases  of  trotters  showing  the 
ambling  gait  due  to  faulty  or  inadequate  shoeing.  As  a  preliminary  re- 
mark, and  one  that  is  borne  out  by  many  observations,  I  may  state  that 
where  excessive  extension  is  found  to  be  either  with  one  leg  only  or  with 
the  pair  of  hind  and  fore  feet  that  do  not  move  together — diagonally 
in  the  pacer  and  laterally  in  the  trotter — there  is  evidence  of  a  mixed 
gait,  or  lack  of  proper  balance. 

The  first  case  (Fig.  200),  is  that  of  Figs.  137  to  140  and  142  of 
Chapter  VI,  where  an  excessive  extension  of  the  near  hind  was  caused 
by  the  inactivity  of  the  off  hind.  Similar  conditions  exist  in  an  inter- 


270 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


mediate  but  faulty  shoeing,  which  caused  the  horse  to  amble  or  single- 
foot  to  a  slight  extent.  In  fact,  my  notes  tell  of  a  "peculiar  feature  of 
the  trial  being  his  inability  to  trot  squarely  and  his  reaching  the  ground 
too  soon  with  hind  feet,  which  caused  ambling  or  single-footing." 

Compared  with  the  trials  under  Figs.  137-140  the  average  distance 
between  hind  and  fore  feet  in  this  case  (2.83  feet)  is  far  below  those 


round  Square, 

3%  in. 

j  A 

12. 


swelled  beefs 

Exke.nston.3  : 


.96  in. 


F/ 0.200 


71  f-  oh    = 

of  -nh  =  2. 69 'ft. 

2V/7"      =         ,+8fl. 

or  S.76//?. 
Slve-r.    =     2.83ft. 
Stride,   »  /5.03ft 


-  2.8 >/^. 
of-nh  =  .S3  ft. 
2)i fF  —  1.99  ft. 

or  23.88  in . 
Jtueraye.     -       /,B5ft. 

/2.90ft 


former  trials,  which  is  no  doubt  due  to  the  longer  heels  and  squared 
toe  of  the  off  hind,  as  well  as  to  heavier  shoe  and  greater  angle  of  the 
off  fore.  The  near  hind  still  retains  the  habit  of  excessive  extension. 
The  notes  on  measurements  of  extensions  from  median  line  give  a  very 
marked  contact  with  ground  of  the  heels  of  the  off  fore 
and  the  off  hind.  There  seems  to  have  been  a  premature  contact  with 


The  Harmony  in  a  Gait  271 

near  hind  due  to  greater  swell  in  heels,  which  in  turn  brought  down  the 
off  fore  a  second  later  with  its  heels  striking  hard  on  ground.  Then 
followed  the  off  hind  with  its  combination  of  squared  toe  and  longer 
heels,  which  again  preceded  its  correlated  near  fore  in  striking  the 
ground.  The  forward  reach  of  the  off  hind  is  seen  in  the  marked 
contact  of  its  heels  with  ground.  Altogether  there  were,  therefore,  the 
four  consecutive  time-beats  of  the  amble  or  single-foot.  However 
faulty  the  shoeing  may  have  been,  such  conditions  may  exist  in  the 
shape  of  the  foot,  naturally  or  through  careless  trimming.  It  only  goes 
to,  show  how  a  fault  in  the  gait  may  be  "further  accentuated  or  increased 
by  a  wrong  adjustment. 

A  still  more  aggravated  case  was  that  of  a  good  big  trotting  mare 
by  Steinway,  whose  attitude  in  front  as  well  as  behind  was  faulty,  in 
that  she  pointed  back  with  fore  and  forward  with  hind.  She  could  trot 
a  mile  in  better  time  than  2 125.  She  was  shod  heavier  behind  for  a  trial, 
but  in  error,  it  must  be  admitted,  as  the  results  will  show.  In  Fig.  201 
that  shoeing  is  given.  Under  "Toeweights"  she  appears  in  Figs.  121 
and  125.  The  shoeing  now  given  shows  a  trial  with  heavy  hind  shoes 
with  smooth  heels,  the  near  one  having  longer  heels.  The  mare's  habit 
of  forward  pointing  with  the  hind  feet  was  simply  aggravated  thereby 
and  the  result  was  that  peculiar  extension  of  the  feet,  as  given. 

The  gait  started  with  a  trot  and  ended  in  a  sort  of  a  single-foot, 
which  was  all  due  to  the  greater  and  easier  extension  of  hind  feet. 
This  single-foot  had  the  characteristics  of  the  pure  single-foot,  as  illus- 
trated in  Fig.  197,  but  it  resembled  the  pace  as  well  by  having  the 
greater  extensions  on  the  near  side  only.  If  urged  still  more  the  mare 
would  have  broken  into  a  run  to  regain  her  balance.  Of  the  20  strides 
shown  12  were  trotted  and  8  single- footed.  The  averages  of  the  12 
trotting  strides  were  as  follows : 

near  —  Fore  —  off  near  —  Hind  —  off 

12.98  12.92  .         13.05  12.98 

showing  even  then  an  increased  extension  of  hind  over  fore  of  0.06  feet 
or  0.72  inch ;  that  is  to  say,  the  average  stride  of  the  fore  is 


272  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

12.98  +  12.92  =  I2>95  ft.,  and  of  the  hind  13.05  +  12.98  =  I3>OI  ft 
The  general  average  for  that  part  of  the  performance  is  12.98  ft. 

With  the  thirteenth  stride  begins  the  mixed  gait,  the  fore  action 
being  short  and  high  and  the  hind,  action  long  and  low.  In  fact,  the 
single-footing  had  the  effect  of  decreasing  the  general  average  stride 
of  the  whole  trial  to  12.90  feet  approximately. 

Now,  for  the  last  eight  strides  we  have  the  following  averages  of 
the  fore  legs : 

near  —  Fore  —  off  near  —  Hind  —  off 

12.71  12.55  13.07  12.85 

showing  an  average  for  the  two  fore  of  12.63  ft-  ( 12. 71  +  12. ssy  an(^ 
for  the  two  hind  of  12.96  ft.  (13.07  +  12.85^  tne  general  average  of 
the  fore  and  hind  being  approximately  12.80  ft.  (-LI  •*:?),  so  that  we 
have  a  shorter  average  stride  with  lessened  forward  extension  and  in- 
creased hind  extension.  Here  we  have  a  difference  of  extension  of  hind 
over  fore  of  0.33  feet,  or  3.96  inches. 

Averaging  these  two  differences  (0.06  feet  for  12  strides,  and  0.33 
feet  for  8  strides),  we  get  about  0.17  feet  as  the  average  difference  of 
extension  of  the  two  hind  over  the  two  fore,  or  0.085  ft-  as  tne  actual 
difference  in  extension  between  the  front  and  hind  extremities.  This 
same  difference  is  visible  in,  the  calculations  of  the  distances  of  opposite 
feet  and  of  the  diagonal  or  correlated  feet.  In  the  former  we  have 
the  totals  as  follows : 

Averages. 

Fore.  Hind, 

o  to  n         n  to  o  o  to  n  to  o 

7-35  541  740          5-53 

H-i-94  4-1.87 

as  shown  in  the  extension  of  Fig.  201 ;  that  is,  one-half  of  such  differ- 
ences constitutes  the  actual  difference  of  extension  of  one  foot  over 


The  Harmeny  in  a  Gait  273 

the  other.  In  other  words,  in  this  case  the  near  fore  exceeds  the  off 
fore  by  0.97  ft.,  or  11.64  inches,  and  the  actual  difference  of  extension 
behind  is  0.935  ^->  or  ^  ls  11.22  inches  greater  for  the  near  hind.  This 
makes  the  separation  between  the  correlated  or  diagonally  opposite 
feet  equal  to  the- sum  total  of  these  two  differences,  or  22.86  inches, 
whereas  ordinarily  the  difference  should  be  only  nominal. 

Now  again,  we  have  by  the  crosswise  differences  in  the  measure- 
ments of  the  near  fore  and  off  hind  and  again  of  the  off  fore  and  near 
hind  the  following  two  averages  of  the  totals : 

Dist.  correlated  feet. 

nf-oh  of-nh 

2.87  0.88 

+  1.99 

showing  an  actual  difference  of  1.99  ft.,  or  23.88  inches.  Under  ordi- 
nary circumstances  this  should  equal  i.9±  +  i.87jOr  1.905,  as  the  dif- 
ference between  opposite  feet  indicated  above.  The  two  calculations 
should  tally  and  are  always  a  check  on  the  correctness  of  the  figures. 
But  here  we  have  a  difference  of  0.085  ft.  (1.99  --  1.905),  which  is 
one-half  of  the  difference  of  the  two  extensions  of  the  hind  over  the 
fore,  namely,  0.17  ft.,  as  given  above.  This  difference  in  extension 
appears  also  in  the  sums  total  of  the  fore  and  of  the  hind  extensions, 
as  given  in  the  average  distances  between  the  opposite  feet,  namely: 

7.35  +  541  =  12.76  for  the  fore,  and 
7.40  +  5.53  =  12.93  for  the  hind  extensions, 

giving  us  a  difference  of  0.17  ft.  between  the  two  hind  and  the  two  fore  ; 
that  is  to  say,  12.93  — 12.76  w{\\  again  express  the  actual  difference 
in  extension  between  fore  and  hind  extensions.  This  difference  of 
0.085  is  also  found  if  we  take  the  difference  between  the  distance  of 
the  correlated  feet  and  that  of  the  opposite  feet  as  found  in  inches, 
namely,  23.88  —  22.86,  which  is  1.02  inch,  or  0.085  ft- 

If  there  is  any  difference  of  extension  between  the  fore  and  the 
hind  it  will  generally  appear  in  the  averages  of  the  fore  and  of  the 
hind,  when  the  averages  of  the  distances  of  one  foot  to  the  opposite  one 


274  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

are  taken.    For  practical  purposes  this  is  the  most  important  and  the 
f  10. 202. 


,  PACE 


*\ 

*i 

I     I 


I         I 


\  \ 

\\)  i 

j  i    ' 

rni 


I     ,2 


i     i 


i-* 


n 


13-4 


1 


i 


FIG. 203. 


Jo 


Extensions : 


3.4-2  tn. 


nf-o}i  =    J.////-. 

0/^-777?     -     2^1  ft. 

=      ,2oft. 

or  2/hin- 

Jiuer.    =       3.Olfk 
Stride  =    14. 4- ft. 


The  Harmony  in  a  Gait  275 

easiest  calculation  to  make  and  will  reveal  the  average  position  of  the 
feet  without  much  trouble;  but  to  establish  a  more  complete  picture 
of  the  locomotion  the  various  other  averages  are  resorted  to  as  a  check 
on  the  first  figures. 

This  matter  is  entered  into  so  minutely  in  order  to  show  that  even 
in  a  case  like  this  one,  where  it  is  difficult  to  get  at  the  various  dif- 
ferences in  measurements,  there  is  a  demonstration  possible,  not  only 
of  the  extensions,  but  also  of  the  lack  of  harmony  between  the  figures,, 
for  such  harmony  is  ordinarily  found  when  the  locomotion  is  a 
pure  trot  or  a  true  pace. 

All  these  details  of  the  relative  positions  of  the  feet  may  strike 
the  reader  as  too  fine  or  hair-splitting,  and  they  are  merely  given  as  a 
demonstration  of  the  reliability  of  the  measurements  and  their  averages. 
The  fact  is  at  least  established  that  the  hind  extension  is  not  in 
accord  with  that  in  front,  and  that  from  a  good  regular  start  the 
gait  degenerates  into  a  half  single- foot  at  the  twelfth  stride,  and  con- 
tinues to  get  worse  by  the  twentieth  stride  until  finally  it  would  end 
in  a  break  or  run.  This  gait  was,  therefore,  while  it  lasted,  a  cross 
between  the  real  single- foot  and  the  trot.  A  glance  at  the  table 
of  Fig.  202  will  illustrate  this  still  further.  Here  we  have  the  tracks 
of  the  single-foot,  as  shown  in  Fig.  197,  in  the  lines  of  motion  marked 
B.  The  time-beats  are  distinctly  and  evenly  divided  into  I,  2,  3,  4, 
and  the  feet  land  as  numbered.  The  tracks  resemble  in  position  those 
of  the  true  pace,  A,  where  fore  and  hind  on  either  side  move  and 
land  together  with  equal  distances  between  them  to  the  time-beats,  I,  2. 

In  C  we  have  the  tracks  of  the  pure  trot,  where  the  diagonally  op- 
posite feet  move  together  with  equal  distances  between  them,  and 
where  the  time-beats  are  also  i,  2. 

In  X,  finally,  we  have  the  tracks  of  our  present  subject,  half 
trotting  and  half  pacing,  or  rather  engaged  in  an  imitation  single- foot. 
While  the  feet  marked  3-4  move  together  as  in  the  trot,  but  do  not  quite 
coincide  in  the  contact  with  ground,  the  feet  marked  i  and  2  show  a 
reverse  extension  from  a  similar  pair  of  feet  in  C.  The  little  arrows 
indicate  the  pointing  back  of  off  fore  and  the  pointing  forward  of 
near  hind,  a  position  clearly  indicated  in  the  average  extensions  of 


276  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

Fig.  201.  The  near  fore  and  the  off  hind  retain  their  positions  almost 
as  in  the  trot  C  and  are  connected  with  these  by  lines  to  show  that 
fact.  Again,  as  to  the  time-beats  we  have  a  mixture  of  the  regular 
i,  2,  3,  4  of  the  single-foot  and  the  even  i,  2  of  the  trot,  for  in  X 
we  find  the  i  and  2  fairly  evenly  divided,  while  the  3  and  4  follow 
closely  together,  as  the  dash  between  the  figures  is  meant  to  indicate. 
The  alignment  of  these  four  gaits  by  the  positions  of  the  feet  and 
their  time-beats,  as  represented  in  Fig.  202,  will  serve  as  a  study  in 
comparative  locomotion. 

To  correct  the  shoeing  of  Fig.  201,  which  produced  the  mixed 
gait,  the  next  trial  was  made  with  the  shoeing  of  Fig.  203,  where 
the  principles  of  unequal  angles  and  weights  were  supposed  to  adjust 
matters  again  to  their  normal  conditions.  The  extensions  as  given,  and 
the  whole  gait  for  that  matter,  proved  that  the  mare  was  moving  fairly 
well.  She  was  at  least  free  from  any  trace  of  single- footing.  The 
near  fore  still  retains  the  habitual  extension,  due  no  doubt  to  fear 
of  interference  on  that  side,  but  behind  the  change  is  remarkable.  The 
calks  in  hind  shoes  have  a  material  influence  on  the  separation  of  the 
fore  and  hind  feet,  for,  in  this  trial,  the  average  is  3.01  ft.  against 
1.85  ft.  in  the  previous  one,  while  the  stride  also  is  more  free  and 
extended. 

All  in  all,  therefore,  the  correction  brought  about  a  definite  im- 
provement. The  heels  of  both  hind  shoes  are  alike;  that  is  to  say, 
the  heels  of  the  near  hind  are  not  %.  in.  longer  as  they  were  in  the 
previous  shoeing.  This  had  undoubtedly  a  great  deal  to  do  with  her 
irregular  gait,  but  the  greater  hind  extension  was  principally  due  to 
the  heavier  hind  shoes  with  smooth  heels*.  This  is  especially  true  of 
horses  that  point  under  as  this  mare  did.  The  check  to  such  pointing 
seems  to  be  calked  heels  and  these  modify  not  only  the  extension,  but 
also  change  the  inclination  to  reach  forward  to  one  of  higher  action. 

Whenever  such  a  mixed  gait  occurs  an  immediate  recourse  to 
these  measurements  and  their  averages  will  locate  the  fault  without  fail 
and  will  at  least  enable  the  trainer  to  understand  the  trouble.  We  may 
at  times  be  in  error  regarding  a  shoeing  and  a  mixed  gait  may  be  our 
reward,  but  after  an  investigation  of  this  sort  —  which  takes  much 


The  Harmony  in  a  Gait  277 

less  time  than  it  did  to  write  this  chapter  —  we  may  at  least  apply 
such  remedies  as  suggest  themselves.  Subsequent  investigations  will 
then  reveal  the  fact  whether  the  work  was  done  on  correct  lines,  or 
whether  further  changes  are  necessary  to  wipe  out  all  traces  of  a  gait 
such  as  the  single-foot. 


CHAPTER  IX 


DOWNHILL  AND   UPHILL    TRIALS    COMPARED. 


Slight  grades  prevail  on  almost  every  track  and  many  experiments 
enumerated  in  this  book,  and  many  more  not  given  but  corroborative 
of  the  facts  explained,  have  all  been  taken  with  such  conditions 
known.  About  twenty-seven  of  these  were  trials  in  both  directions 
consecutively  over  the  same  ground.  Various  horses  were  used  as 
subjects  and  the  comparisons  between  uphill  and  downhill  will  perhaps 
serve  as  indications  of  the  effect  of  such  grades  under  the  same  ad- 
justment of  shoes.  Some  horses  preferred  to  go  uphill,  that  is,  their 
movements  were  better  and  such  improvement  of  gait  gave  rise  to 
a  change  of  the  shoeing. 

In  many  experiments  preference  was  given  to  trials  on  a  downhill 
grade  because  it  appeared  to  be  a  more  severe  test  for  the  balance  of 
the  animal  to  have  the  increasing  momentum  of  the  body  added  to 
the  ordinary  efforts  of  locomotion.  More  weight  is  thrown  on  the 
fore  part  of  the  body  in  the  downhill  movement,  while  uphill  the 
weight  shifts  more  towards  the  hind  part  of  the  body. 

Reference  is  here  made  to  Fig.  29,  where  Abe  Edgington  is 
shown  under  the  saddle  and  where  the  weight  of  the  rider  incites 
the  horse  to  greater  hind  action  and  backward  extension.  The  down- 
grade movement  requires  a  better  control  of  the  motion  and  a  defect 
in  the  gait  is  more  readily  detected,  while  the  upgrade  movement  is 
characterized  by  an  effort  to  lift  the  body  higher  off  the  ground  at 
every  stride  and  therefore  it  develops  more  action.  Downhill  the 
horse  is  hurled  forward  and  downward  at  every  step  and  his  action, 
while  freer,  will  be  lower ;  but  to  be  exact  it  should  be  stated  that 
in  going  downhill  the  front  action  will  be  somewhat  more  developed 

278 


Downhill  and  Uphill  Trials  Compared  279 

than  the  hind  action,  and,  vice  versa,  going  uphill  the  hind  action  is 
apt  to  increase.  Experience  of  trainers  will  probably  bear  out  the  as- 
sertion that  the  dead-level  track  is  more  tiresome  for  the  horse  than 
slight  inclines  both  ways.  Mountain  teamsters  do  not  as  a  rule  fancy 
a  scientifically  even  uphill  grade  for  a  load,  but  prefer  level  stretches 
or  slight  downgrades  at  intervals  on  a  long  uphill  pull.  The  let-up 
in  the  continuous  strain  uphill  readjusts  the  muscular  system  and 
grants  a  temporary  relief  to  the  horse.  This  should  hold  true  of  the 
horse  at  speed,  where  quickness  of  motion  and  the  pulling  of  ever -so 
slight  a  load  use  up  more  vitality  than  the  process  of  slow  but  heavy 
draft. 

Again,  it  is  advisable  to  examine  the  manner  of  gait  when  we 
take  into  consideration  the  benefits  of  the  up  and  down  grades.  A 
long-gaited  horse  has  the  advantage  over  a  short-gaited  one  going 
downhill,  but  a  short-gaited  horse  is  more  effective  in  propulsion  going 
uphill  and  does  it  more  easily.  Going  uphill,  be  it  ever  so  slight  an 
incline,  requires  continual  lifting  and  a  rapid  succession  of  steps  will 
accomplish  that  more  readily  than  the  swing  of  a  long  stride.  The 
downhill  incline  lends  itself  more  easily  to  the  horse  with  a  long  reach 
because  the  momentum  of  his  body  increases  his  speed  without  per- 
ceptibly increasing  the  rapidity  of  the  movements. 

A  short-gaited  horse,  however,  finds  himself  in  a  peculiar  pre- 
dicament going  downhill,  when  his  weight  hurls  him  farther  than  his 
ordinary  stride  will  almost  warrant,  and  it  may  happen  to  him  that  a 
break  will  be  his  final  relief.  The  long-gaited  horse,  on  the  other 
hand,  prefers  to  take  a  hill  in  a  gallop  because  his  manner  of  going 
is  checked  by  an  uphill  grade. 

The  conduct  of  the  animal,  therefore,  in  going  uphill  or  down- 
hill depends  on  the  ability  of  either  modifying  or  expanding  the 
curves  of  motion  discussed  under  Figs.  19,  20  and  21.  One  of  the 
hardest  problems  of  training  or  shoeing  is,  in  fact,  the  regulation  of 
the  gait  so  that  a  rapid  motion  may  assume  a  little  more  extension  and 
a  long  motion  a  little  more  repression. 

The  natural  gait  of  each  horse  is  amenable  to  but  a  slight  change 
either  way,  but  the  effort  to  modify  either  the  rapid  or  the  long  loco- 


280  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

motion  is  worth  making  if  the  horse  is  at  all  worth  training.  Every 
horse  should  be  able  to  meet  the  demands  of  a  down  or  an  up  grade 
while  he  is  speeding  along  at  his  best.  In  the  hilly  section  of  France 
called  Perche  they  used  to  have  a  course  mapped  out  for  horses  old 
enough  to  be  tested  for  their  capacity  of  draft  at  speed.  They  were 
trotted  at  top  speed  over  several  miles  of  road  up  and  down  hill.  Time 
was  a  factor  in  this  test,  so  that  their  strength,  courage,  endurance 
and  action  were  under  a  severe  strain  during  the  entire  course. 

While  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  our  standard  bred  horse  is  not 
subjected  more  to  the  test  of  weight  pulling  and  thereby  would  become 
also  a  more  useful  horse  by  heredity,  the  great  speed  attained  to-day 
does  in  a  way  constitute  a  test  of  strength,  endurance,  courage  and 
action.  Such  speed  should  not  be  confined  to  a  lone  mile  on  a  dead 
level  track,  but  should  be  able  to  surmount  the  clatter  of  the  hoofs  of 
opponents  and  the  uphill  and  downhill  grades  as  they  may  appear  on  the 
track.  Hence  my  plan  to  test  a  shoeing  not  only  one  way  of  going,  but 
also  the  opposite  way,  and  to  speed  the  reverse  way  of  the  track  as 
well,  in  order  that  the  test  for  the  balancing  may  be  reliable. 

Rather  than  take  the  extreme  and  unreasonable  view  that  a  real 
trotter  will  trot  under  any  conditions  and  with  any  kind  of  shoes,  it 
would  be  far  nearer  the  real  truth  to  hold  that  a  trotter  or  a  pacer 
will  stick  to  his  gait  when  a  proper  balance  has  been  established,  no 
matter  whether  the  course  is  uphill  or  downhill ;  for  such  grades  cannot 
always  be  avoided  and  are,  moreover,  an  advantage.  But  to  claim 
that  one  of  such  conditions  might  at  any  time  be  a  carelessly  prepared 
or  extremely  rough  track,  which  lessens  speed  and  endangers  racing, 
is  tantamount  to  giving  harness  racing  a  hard  blow,  against  which 
respectable  men  should  at  all  times  protect  it.  The  aim  should  not 
exactly  be  to  prepare  for  a  lone  mile  under  ideal  conditions,  but  to 
prepare  to  meet  the  excitement  and  turns  and  twists  of  a  real  race 
with  the  noise  and  dust  of  the  contest  to  boot.  In  other  words,  it 
seems  best  and  more  rational  to  lay  the  foundations  for  balancing 
on  extremely  broad  lines  and  to  be  extremely  critical  as  to  what  con- 
stitutes proper  balance  for  each  individual  horse. 

We  have  here  to  consider  the  comparative  effects  of  uphill  and 


Downhill  and  Uphill  Trials  Compared  281 

downhill  trials  on  the  extensions  and  the  variations  of  the  four  moving 
legs. 

An  increase  in  speed,  or  what  amounts  to  the  same  thing,  an  in- 
crease in  stride,  generally  causes  the  extremities  to  separate  slightly 
more.  I  am  speaking  here  of  animals  with  normal  or  fairly  regular 
attitudes,  and  of  trials  made  with  the  same  or  nearly  the  same  adjust- 
ment of  shoes.  For,  by  means  of  very  different  shoeing  we  do  not 
always  observe  this  to  be  the  case. 

Uphill  this  increase  of  separation  is  principally  produced  by  the 
greater  backward  and  upward  action  of  the  hind  legs,  while  downhill 
such  a  greater  separation  is  due  more  to  the  greater  forward  action  of 
the  forelegs.  These  observations  do  not  apply  to  horses  with  very 
faulty  attitudes,  such  as  standing  under  both  in  front  and  behind,  or 
having  either  extremity  pointing  that  way.  Any  increase  of  speed  in 
their  cases  seems  to  affect  such  pointing  still  more,  since  the  effort 
seems  to  be  then  to  shove  back  farther  with  the  fore  and  to  reach  for- 
ward still  more  with  the  hind.  This  applies  to  all  trials  made  under 
the  same  conditions,  but  with  varying  speed  or  stride. 

Toe-weights  seem  to  be  a  handicap  to  extension  on  an  uphill  grade, 
while  downhill  they  increase  the  extension.  Heavy  hind  shoes  show 
the  effect  of  higher  action  better  on  an  uphill  grade  and  the  same  is 
true  of  squared  hind  toes. 

The  case  of  Figs.  183  and  184  illustrates  the  benefit  of  squared 
hind  toes  when  trotting  uphill  with  an  average  distance  of  the  corre- 
lated feet  of  3.98  ft.,  and  going  downhill  the  same  distance  being 
4.38  ft.  This  trotter  was  peculiar  in  that  he  lacked  forward  exten- 
sion and  action  behind  and  he  dubbed  his  hind  toes,  thereby  causing 
an  abnormal  separation  of  the  extremities.  The  uphill  trial  gave  the 
smallest  distance  (3.98  ft.)  of  any  trial.  On  the  uphill  .grade  his  hind 
heels  did  not  have  as  long  a  contact  with  the  ground  and  the  ease  with 
which  the  squared  toe  yielded  to  the  leverage  at  toe  produced  this 
greater  hind  action,  and  in  this  case  also  a*  somewhat  better  forward 
extension  in  consequence.  In  this  uphill  trial  the  fore  legs  showed 
great  variations  from  the  average  stride  since  the  forward  action  was 
impeded  by  a  low  angle  of  the  foot. 


282 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


A  steeper  angle  of  the  feet  gives  the  animal  a  chance  to  lean  for- 
ward and  overcome  the  force  of  gravity  better  on  an  uphill  grade. 
Lower  angles  lend  themselves  better  to  a  downhill  grade,  because  the 
leverage  at  the  toe  is  somewhat  easier,  which  is  due  to  the  fact  that 
the  position  of  the  toe  is  slightly  lower  than  that  of  the  heel ;  besides, 
the  momentum  of  the  body  is  aided  by  the  force  of  gravity  rather  than 
impeded  by  it,  as  in  the  uphill  grade. 

Fig.  204  will  give  an  illustration  of  the  effect  of  the  up  and  down 
grade  on  the  toe  leverage.  On  the  incline  A  B  of  I,  two  feet  are  mov- 
ing down  and  two  feet  up,  the  former  being  of  a  lower  angle  than  the 


no.  204  . 

Extreme  anqles   of  The  foot  on   on    incline 

latter.  It  will  appear  that  the  positions  D  and  D'  with  their  low  angles 
are  better  adapted  for  both  a  reasonable  contact  with  ground  and  a 
fairly  easy  leverage  at  toe  on  the  down  grade,  while  the  positions  U 
and  U'  going  uphill  with  a  greater  angle  or  higher  heel  show  again 
the  better  facility  for  a  contact  with  the  ground  that  will  not  hasten 
the  breakover  at  toe  and  yet  will  quicken  its  leverage. 

If  we  reverse  the  positions  of  the  feet,  as  downhill  in  2  of  Fig. 
204,  we  have  the  higher  heeled  foot  at  U  breaking  over  too  suddenly  at 
U'  and  again  at  D  we  have  the  low  heeled  foot  breakover  too  soon 
at  D'  going  uphill.  The  result  in  the  last  positions  will  be  the  reverse 
of  those  of  i.  That  is  to  say,  the  contact  with  the  ground  will  be 


Downhill  and  Uphill  Trials  Compared  283 

lessened  in  both  up  and  down  grade  movements,  and  the  leverage 
at  the  toes  will  be  ineffective  though  easy  at  U',  and  also  difficult  be- 
cause it  does  not  occur  at  the  right  moment,  and  the  consequence  of 
such  effects  is  i)  that  the  feet  U  and  U'  point  back  and  increase  the 
upward  action  of  the  leg  because  of  this  too  quick  toe  leverage ;  and 
2)  that  the  feet  D  and  D'  will  point  forward  to  ease  the  leverage  and 
therefore  will  lose  the  effect  of  a  good  hold  with  the  toe,  because  they 
lack  backward  extension  and  action.  Or,  again,  we  may  say  that  while 
U  and  U'  are  checked  by  a  higher  heel  on  the  down  grade  the  feet 
at  D  and  D'  are  checked  by  the  lower  heel  and  the  more  pointed  toe. 
We  shall  find  on  the  ground  surface  a  consequent  greater  concussion 
of  the  heels  of  the  former  and  the  toes  of  the  latter  feet. 

The  feet  best  adapted  to  the  down  grade  would  be  D  and  D' 
of  i  as  the  fore  feet  and  U  and  U'  of  2  as  the  hind  feet,  while  for 
upgrade  U  and  U'  of  i  would  serve  best  as  the  hind  feet  and  nearly 
as  well  for  the  fore  feet.  It  will  be  readily  seen  that  if  we  put  D 
and  D'  in  either  figure  as  the  hind  and  U  and  U'  as  the  fore  feet  we 
shall  have  as  a  result  a  probable  intereference  and  a  cramped  loco- 
motion, because  these  legs  or  feet  would  in  either  case  point  toward 
^ach  other  instead  of  pointing  away  from  each  other. 

The  practical  benefit,  therefore,  which  such  trials  on  inclines  seem 
to  offer  is  a  hint  as  to  the  angles  of  the  fore  and  of  the  hind  feet 
rather  than  the  length  of  the  toes,  for  the  angle  determines  the  ease 
or  the  difficulty  with  which  the  leverage  at  the  toe  takes  place.  In- 
cidentally it  may  also  lead  to  the  solution  of  the  weight  and  the  shape 
of  the  shoes.  Attention  has  been  called  to  the  variations  which  the 
fore  or  hind  legs  may  show  from  the  average  stride.  They  may 
be  greater  or  smaller  at  either  extremity.  The  horse  may  "recover" 
in  front,  or  may  hop  or  change  behind,  owing  to  such  defective  or 
excessive  leverage  at  the  toe. 

If  we  take  U  and  U'  in  2  of  Fig.  204  as  the  fore  feet  we  shall 
have  excessive  ease  of  leverage ;  that  is  to  say,  the  leg  may  lack  for- 
ward extension,  which  would  not  be  the  case  with  D  and  D'  in  i  as 
the  fore  feet.  And  vice  versa,  in  going  uphill  we  would  have  the 
feet  U  and  U'  of  i  to  better  advantage  than  they  are  in  D  and  D'  of 


28J.  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

2.  Again  considering  the  hind  feet,  we  have  U  and  U'  of  2  in  a  far 
better  condition  for  the  necessary  backward  extension  downhill  than 
they  would  appear  to  be  as  D  and  D'  of  i ;  but  in  going  uphill  the 
hind  feet  D  and  D'  of  2  would  not  be  benefited  as  much  by  a  low  angle 
as  they  would  be  in  U  and  U'  of  2  because  of  the  lack  of  heel  support 
and  of  the  difficult  leverage  at  toe.  To  avoid,  however,  too  great  a 
backward  extension  of  such  hind  feet,  as  in  U  and  U'  of  i,  the  angle 
necessary  for  an  effective  leverage  at  toe,  and  the  latters  hold  on  the 
ground,  would  probably  be  midway  between  the  two  angles  here  shown. 
The  purpose  of  pointing  out  these  conditions  on  the  incline  is  merely 
to  find  a  remedy  for  excessive  variations  in  the  strides  when  they 
do  occur  in  either  direction.  To  insure  a  regular  gait  such  variations 
should  be  but  small,  and  while  they  exist  at  all  times  to  some  extent, 
they  are  attributable  more  to  the  condition  of  the  ground  and  the  am- 
bition of  the  animal  rather  than  to  the  faulty  leverage  at  the  toes. 

A  few  cases  as  illustration  may  perhaps  serve  to  bring  these 
points  more  vividly  before  the  mind  of  the  reader.  Let  me  take  the 
most  palpable  cases  where  some  pacing  inclination  existed.  These  were, 
one  a  filly  discussed  under  Fig.  190,  and  the  other  one  an  unsatis- 
factory little  trotter  that  would  pace  now  and  then,  but  was  possessed 
of  no  speed.  The  latter  puzzled  me  a  good  deal  on  account  of  her  lack 
of  extension  of  either  fore  or  hind.  There  was  no  action  either  by 
which  to  influence  the  gait  through  weight  of  shoe  or  angles  of  feet. 
She  generally  showed  an  excess  of  extension  on  one  side  only,  in- 
stead of  having  it  appear  diagonally  across.  Heavy  front  shoes  with 
toe-weights  would  steady  her  and  give  her  a  longer  stride,  but  at  all 
times  she  would  trot  better  uphill  than  downhill.  It  was  always  evi- 
dent that  the  action  was  better  going  uphill,  that  is,  it  was  equalized 
more  between  fore  and  hind  legs.  Due  to  some  weakness  in  hind  an- 
kles the  near  hind  would  generally  extend  ahead  of  the  off  hind  quite 
a  little  bit.  This  filly  was  by  Welcome  2 : 10^/2,  a  son  of  Arthur  Wilkes. 

A  trial  with  the  shoeing  of  Fig.  205  resulted  in  the  extensions  as 
given  for  uphill  and  downhill.  Here  again  we  see  the  sidelong  extensions 
in  the  downhill  drive.  Of  course,  there  was  always  the  disadvantage  in 
her  shoeing  of  having  to  provide  for  a  smooth  hind  shoe  with  a  little 


Downhill  and  Uphill  Trials  Compared 


285 


roll  to  it  to  protect  the  ankles  against  shocks.  Similar  trials  with 
two  other  cases,  where  there  was  a  tendency  to  knuckle  over  with 
hind  ankles,  proved  that  the  uphill  trial  was  done  in  a  better  gait, 
because  the  ankles  did  not  have  to  bear  the  strain  that  the  downhill 
movements  will  produce.  Such  cases  form  no  reasonable  basis  for 
any  deductions  regarding  the  adjustment  of  shoes,  but  they  show  at 


FIG.  2  OS. 


402 


402 


52° 


Extensions 
Down  Up 


5  in. 


Stride 

ll.6Zft.  1 1.36  ft. 
D/5>t.  cor r el.  feet 
3.38ft.  3.45  ft 

Overstep 

2  44  ft         2.  53  ft 


FIG.  2O6. 


63° 


Extensions 
Down  up 


Stride 

1 1. 48  ft.  1 1. 5 Q  ft. 
Distcorrel.feet 
320ft  3.40ft. 

Overstep 

ZSSft     2.64ft. 


least  the  effect  of  the  grade ;  and  this  may  lead  perhaps  to  some  sug- 
gestion by  which  the  weakness  may  be  supported. 

A  high  heel  on  the  hind  feet  on  this  filly,  for  instance,  had  a 
bad  effect  on  her  gait,  especially  when  going  downhill.  In  Fig.  205 
we  have  52°  for  hind  heels,  but  at  a  trial  with  54°  and  a  few  other 
changes,  she  paced  and  single-footed.  But  again,  in  a  trial  of  Fig. 


286  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

206  with  heavy  hind  shoes  we  find  an  energetic  gait  uphill  but  a  rather 
distorted  trot  downhill,  although  she  did  not  show  it  much  to  the  eye. 

The  average  distance  of  the  correlated  feet,  and  the  oversteps  of 
hind  over  fore  especially,  showed  the  greater  extension  of  the  hind  feet 
in  this  last  trial  as  compared  with  the  previous  one,  for  in  Fig.  205 
we  have  an  overstep  of  only  2.53  ft.  for  the  uphill  stride  of  11.96  ft., 
while  in  Fig.  206  we  have  an  overstep  of  2.64  ft.  for  an  uphill  stride 
of. only  11.58  ft. 

The  longer  the  stride  the  greater  the  overstep  applies  to  any  var- 
iation of  speed  for  one  particular  shoeing  and  also  the  distance  be- 
tween the  extremities  increases  slightly  at  the  same  time.  In  the  former 
trial  we  have  the  toe-weights  as  agents  of  greater  forward  extension, 
although  in  the  uphill  trial  this  greater  extension  does  not  obtain.  The 
fact  of  the  near  hind  shoe  being  heavier  is  due  to  her  habitual  greater 
extension  with  the  off  hind,  but  the  effect  was  not  convincing  because 
of  her  lack  of  action.  These  toe-weights  are  offset  somewhat,  as  far 
as  the  greater  distance  between  fore  and  hind  is  concerned,  by  the 
lower  angle  (52°)  of  the  hind  feet.  For,  in  the  second  trial  (Fig. 
,206)  we  have  no  toe-weights  but  also  a  higher  angle  behind  (53°), 
which  we  may  consider  as  not  materially  changing  the  distance  be- 
tween .extremities  from  that  of  the  previous  trial.  And  still,  the 
greater  stride  (11.96)  causes  but  a  difference  of  0.05  (3.45  —  340) 
in  the  separation  of  hind  and  fore  as  compared  with  that  of  the  shorter 
stride  (11.58). 

Therefore,  the  greater  overstep  in  second  trial  must  be  due  to  the 
somewhat  greater  extension  caused  by  heavier  hind  shoes  and  by  lesser 
extension  of  the  fore  due  to  lighter  shoes.  This  greater  extension 
of  hind  is  still  better  seen  in  the  comparative  downhill  drives  where 
the  strides  do  not  differ  very  much  in  length,  and  yet  both  the  greater 
overstep  and  the  smaller  separation  of  extremities  occur  in  the  second 
trial  with  heavy  hind  shoes. 

All  in  all,  this  mixed-gaited  and  unsatisfactory  filly  proved  by 
her  gait  that  any  uphill  drive  brought  out  all  the  best  that  was  in 
her.  The  reason  for  this  was  apparently  her  lack  of  action  behind, 
which  was  improved  by  an  uphill  movement,  and  the  fact  that  she  had 


Downhill  and  Uphill  Trials  Compared 


287 


weak  hind  ankles,  which  were  helped  by  the  backward  incline  of  the 
ground ;  and  her  consequent  position  enabled  her  to  respond  with 
more  vigor  and  speed  than  she  could  on  a  down  grade. 

However  defective  this  little  goodnatured  trotter  was  in  gait  and 
in  speed  she  served  as  an  object  of  observation  and  was  at  least  in  my 
complete  control  because  I  owned  her.  Since  no  honest  man,  however 
small  his  station  in  life,  is  unworthy  of  our  respect  and  our  good  will, 
so  this  little  mare,  that  tried  to  do  her  level  best,  was  not  unworthy 
of  some  study.  The  observations  gathered  from  her  trials,  though 
not  quite  satisfactory,  led  me  to  work  along  similar  lines  with  other 
horses,  one  of  which  was  the  other  filly  mentioned  before. 

PIG.  207 

Uphill   Extensions 
F/C./9O   Subsequent 
I OQ  in. 


Stride 

14.36ft.        !4.Z3ft 
DisteorreLfeet 
3.1  Q  ft.       3.34ft. 

Oi/ersTep 
J.99  ft       3.77ft. 

In  both  these  cases  there. was  an  inclination  for  greater  extension 
on  one  side  or  the  other,  which  is  generally  an  indication  of  the  pac- 
ing gait.  It  was  seen  in  Fig.  190,  but  in  the  uphill  trials  it  disappeared 
more  or  less.  The  filly  had  acquired  a  low  hind  action  with  much 
hind  forward  extension  because  of  the  use  of  smooth  shoes  and  also 
shoes  slightly  on  the  rolling  motion  plan,  which  latter  seemed  to  give 
her  a  'little  better  hock  action,  but  with  a  forward  rather  than  a  back- 
ward extension. 

Fig.  207  gives  the  extension  of  two  uphill  trials,  one  with  the 


288  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

shoeing  of  Fig.  190  and  the  other  with  a  similar  shoeing,  but  with 
toe-lengths  varied.  The  second  one  was  more  satisfactory  and  showed 
less  variations  in  the  strides  of  the  four  legs.  It  was  as  clear  a  case  of 
decreased  variations  of  an  uphill  trial  as  with  the  other  subject.  In 
the  former  case  such  were  more  marked  and  showed  the  greater  ease 
of  motion  uphill,  and  likewise  with  the  filly  now  under  discussion,  the 
greater  ease  was  also  apparent  to  the  eye  when  she  went  uphill.  Rea- 
soning from  the  apparent  analogy,  I  decided  to  use  heavy  hind  shoes 
on  her  and  simply  reversed  the  weights  of  Fig.  190,  putting  6  oz.  in 
front  and  9  oz.  behind.  In  both  these  cases  the  action  of  the  hind  legs 
when  going  uphill  was  the  principal  improvement  obtained.  There 
was  a  better  equalization*  of  the  fore  and  hind  action,  and  in  general 
terms  it  may  be  said  that  the  fore  action  decreased  while  the  hind 
action  increased  in  those  uphill  movements. 

There  is  no  double  trial  of  the  above  change  of  shoes  on  record, 
but  the  downhill  trial  shows  an  improvement  both  in  the  extension 
(near  fore  0.075  ft.  and  near  hind  0.12  ft.  more  than  opposite  mate,  or 
respectively  0.9  inch  and  1.44  inch)  and  in  the  total  variations.  The 
latter  were: 

Fore 


Near.  Off.  Near.  Off.  Total. 

345  3-30  3-35  3-io  (13.20) 

for  a  stride  of  14.10  ft.  The  hind  shoes  were  still  of  the  pattern  with 
beveled  toe  and  heels,  which  in  itself  was  not  a  favorable  condition. 
Another  trial  with  unequally  divided  weight  behind  was  not  satisfac- 
tory, but  the  season  was  at  an  end. 

The  next  year  she  was  first  tried  with  heel  calks  on  hind  shoes, 
subsequently  with  squared  toes  added  and  finally  with  more  weight  on 
top  of  that.  This  not  only  extended  the  mare,  but  produced  a  desir- 
able and  even  action  of  the  hock  joint.  Her  strides  were  now  over  16 
ft,  and  her  speed  steadily  increased.  All  this  was  the  direct  result  of 
the  uphill  trials,  and  although  errors  are  evident,  they  were  made  in 
good  faith.  It  is  to  avoid  like  errors  that  these  records  are  given  so  at 
length  to  the  reader.  The  usual  dislike  for  heavier  hind  shoes  caused 


Downhill  and  Uphill  Trials  Compared  289 

me  to  try  everything  else  at  first,  but  it  was  due  to  these  observations 
on  the  uphill  grade  that  the  possibility  of  their  benefit  first  suggested 
itself. 

The  effects  of  various  shoeings  for  the  downhill  grade  differ  in 
many  respects  materially  from  those  of  the  uphill  movements,  but 
there  is  a  happy  medium  that  will  moderate  the  difficulties  of  both 
ways  of  going.  Weight  in  front  is  more  prohibitive  of  extension  than 
it  is  behind  on  the  downhill  grade,  for  the  front  legs  fold  in  a  back- 
ward manner,  while  weight  on  hind  legs  with  their  forward  unfolding 
favors  extension.  Weight  in  front  on  an  uphill  grade,  however,  does 
not  cause  so  much  folding  of  knee  and  is  apt  to  slightly  increase  front 
extension,  while  behind  it  has  the  effect  of  increasing  the  hock  action 
and  thereby  somewhat  lessening  the  hind  extension. 

Longer  toes  at  either  end  will  often  cause  trouble  going  uphill  by 
checking  the  extension.  In  Fig.  190-6  the  longer  front  toes  or  longer 
fore  legs — the  heels  having  also  been  raised  by  the  greater  angle — 
caused  much  greater  total  variations  going  uphill,  as  in  Fig.  2O7-A, 
than  it  did  downhill,  as  in  Fig.  igo-B.  They  were: 

Fore Hind 

Near.           Off.  Near.             Off.  Totals. 

Uphill   4.98            5.75  6.28            6.28  (23.29) 

Downhill    3.51             2.99  3.33             4.43  (14.26) 

Besides,  the  stride  was  shorter  and  appeared  to  be  a  little  labored. 
This  check  to  the  front  extension  and  the  fact  that  the  hind  heels  were 
higher  (53°  in  A  and  52°  in  B),  and  therefore  the  toe  leverage 
prompter  in  A  than  in  B,  decreased  the  distance  between  the  extrem- 
ities. In  the  subsequent  shoeing  of  B,  with  different  lengths  of  toes, 
we  have  the  total  variations : 

Fore Hind 

Near.          Off.          Near.  Off.  Totals. 

"Uphill    3.94  4.20  5.17  6.44  (19-75) 

Downhill    5.06  5.37  4.77  7.75  (22.95) 

which  is  a  better  handling  of  feet  going  uphill,  but  a  change  for  the 
"worse  downhill.  The  somewhat  equalized  lengths  of  toes  brought 


290  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

about  a  greater  distance  between  the  extremities.  In  other  words,  the 
shorter  toes  in  front  caused  an  easier  extension  uphill  and  a  less 
labored  motion.  This  condition,  though  not  yet  satisfactory  even  for 
the  uphill  movements,  proved  neither  an  improvement  for  the  downhill 
trial.  This  was  therefore  not  the  happy  medium  looked  for  in  the  ad- 
justment. 

When  it  comes  to  the  many  combinations  that  can  be  arranged  for 
a  better  balance,  we  shall  find  that  but  a  few  will  equalize  the  manner 
of  going  in  both  directions.  The  expected  change  shows  itself  in  more 
or  less  extreme  form  in  both  trials,  but  the  purpose  of  these  compari- 
sons is  to  establish  if  possible  a  happy  medium  of  averages,  which 
would  keep  the  animal  going  at  its  best  both  ways. 

This  may  be  further  illustrated  by  giving  the  extensions  in  Fig.  208 
of  the  two  uphill  trials  of  shoeing  given  under  Figs.  106  and  107,  this 
being,  however,  made  without  toe-weights.  Fig.  106  shows  the  front 
shoes  with  toe-weights.  For  better  comparison  the  downhill  ex- 
tensions appear  alongside  of  those  made  uphill.  We  have  here  a  de- 
creased extension  of  the  near  fore  (from  2.16  in.  to  0.48  in.)  and  an  in- 
creased extension  of  the  off  hind  ((from  0.24  in.  to  0.72.).  In  front 
this  difference  seems  to  be  due  to  the  higher  angle  (50°)  of  the  off 
fore,  which  gives  that  foot  an  easier  leverage  at  toe,  and  this  readiness 
to  extend  is  helped  by  the  greater  weight  of  shoe.  The  fold  of  the 
knee  is  not  so  great  as  it  is  going  downhill,  hence  the  effect  of  the 
weight  (9  oz.)  is  toward  slightly  greater  extension.  Therefore,  the 
near  fore  with  its  lower  angle  (49°)  and  lighter  shoe  (7  oz.)  loses  its 
greater  extension  of  2.16  in.  over  the  off  fore,  and  the  result  shows 
its  extension  to  be  but  0.48  in.  over  that  of  its  opposite  mate.  Downhill 
that  higher  angle  of  the  off  fore,  with  its  heavier  shoe,  had  a  tendency 
to  increase  the  fold  of  knee  and  to  put  into  elevation  what  force  it  put 
into  extension  going  uphill.  Its  opposite  mate,  the  near  fore,  had 
therefore  the  advantage  of  that  checked  extension  of  the  off  fore 
downhill  and  was  placed  ahead  of  the  off  fore. 

Let  me  again  call  attention  to  the  main  point,  the  most  palpable 
point  in  fact,  in  the  difference  between  the  uphill  and  downhill  loco- 
motion of  the  horse,  by  stating  that  the  equalization  of  the  action  of 


Downhill  and  Uphill  Trials  Compared  291 


the  extremities,  as  seen  in  the  upgrade  movement,  is  due  to  an  in- 
creased action  of  the  hind  and  somewhat  decreased  action  of  the  front 
legs.  Downhill,  therefore,  we  are  apt  to  have  a  greater  knee  action 
and  a  lower  hock  action,  while  uphill  the  reverse  is  generally  the  case. 
The  increased  extension  of  the  off  hind  in  Fig.  208  is  no  doubt  due 
to  the  difference  in  length  of  heels,  as  well  as  to  the  presumably  greater 
elevation  and  lesser  extension  of  the  near  hind.  The  absolute  equality 
of  the  distance  between  fore  and  hind  feet  is  noteworthy  and  shows 


FIG.  2O 6 

see  f if.  107. 

Downhill  uphill 

2../G  in  48  m. 


FIG.  2OG 
see  'ft$.  13 

Downhill  — *\  Up  hi  (I 

.36  in.  .72  in. 


Stride 
16.12ft      /4.61ft 

D/st  corrcUset. 

3.66ft.      366ft. 

Overstep 
j.Zffr.     3S5ft. 


Stride 
1 5  59  ft         1 5.60  ft, 

Distcorrel.  feet 
3.90ft        3.9eft 

Overstep 
3.90ft.  3£oft 


how  this  separation  increases  going  uphill,  for  the  greater  stride  of 
16.12  ft.  should  have,  as  a  rule,  the  greater  separation  as  well  as  the 
greater  overstep.  The  variations  of  the  strides  were  much  greater 
going  uphill  than  downhill,  in  fact,  so  great  that  their  comparison  with 
those  of  the  downhill  movement  proved  that  the  shoeing  was  not  quite 
satisfactory. 

In'Fig.  209  we  have  the  extensions  of  the  shoeing  of  Figs.  113  and 
1 14.  The  difference  in  toe-lengths  besides  in  weights  is  here  to  be  con- 
sidered. The  shorter  toe  of  off  fore  (3%  in.)  and  its  lower  angle 


292  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

(48°)  and  heavier  shoe  (n  oz.)  do  not  offset  the  longer  toe  (3^3  in.), 
higher  heel  (49°)  and  lighter  shoe  (9  oz.)  of  the  near  fore  as  far  as 
extension  goes.  For,  the  extension  of  near  fore  increases  to  twice  the 
distance  (0.72  in.),  although  this  is  small  in  either  case.  It  shows  that 
the  higher  heel  (49°)  of  near  gives  a  better  leverage  to  the  longer 
toe  than  the  lower  heel  (48°)  gives  to  the  shorter  toe  and  heavier  shoe 
of  the  off  fore.  Behind  the  shorter  toe  (3^  in.)  of  the  near  and 
its  greater  weight  (8  oz.)  gives  an  easier  leverage  and  a  greater  ex- 
tension (1.92  in.)  than  the  longer  toe  (3^  in.)  and  lighter  shoe  (6  oz.) 
of  the  off  hind,  the  angles  being  the  same. 

A  notable  agreement  in  these  two  trials  may  be  seen  in  the  equal- 
ity of  the  strides  both  ways  (15.60  —  15-59),  which  gives  occasion  to 
call  attention  to  the  general  rule  that  the  separation  of  the  extremities 
is  greater  in  the  uphill  movement  (3.98)  than  it  is  in  the  downhill 
movement  (3.90),  and  also  that  the  overstep  in  the  latter  (3.90)  is 
greater  than  it  is  in  the  former  (3.80).  These  differences  are  no 
doubt  due  to  two  causes,  namely,  the  better  backward  extension  of 
the  hind  and  also,  to  a  lesser  extent,  the  better  or  easier  forward  ex- 
tension of  the  fore. 

In  the  uphill  movement  the  fore  enter  more  largely  as  drivers  of 
the  equine  machine,  which  function  is  .generally  taken  up  by  the  hind 
members  in  both  directions;  but  the  fore  do  at  the  same  time  reach 
forward  with  greater  vigor  on  account  of  that  incline  uphill.  And  so 
the  general  difference  of  effects  between  uphill  and  downhill  motion 
may  be  summed  up  as  follows : 

DOWNHILL. 

1.  Higher  action  in  front  and  lower  action  behind. 

2.  Greater  and  easier  forward  extension  of  hind. 

3.  Greater  effort  in  forward  extension  of  fore. 

4.  Naturally  longer  stride  for  a  given  speed. 

5.  Greater  and  easier  approach  of  fore  and  hind. 

6.  Leverage  at  toe  less  dependent  on  a  greater  angle  of  foot. 

7.  Greater  length  of  whole  foot  increasing  extension. 

8.  Weight  of  front  shoe  increasing  action  and  slightly  decreasing 
extension. 


Downhill  and  Uphill  Trials  Compared  293 

9.     Weight  of  hind  shoe  increasing  extension  and  decreasing  action* 
10.     Toe-weights  increasing  extension  of  fore. 

UPHILL, 

1.  Lower  action  in  front  and  higher  action  behind. 

2.  Greater  and  easier  backward  extension  of  hind. 

3.  Less  effort  and  easier  forward  extension  of  fore. 

4.  Naturally  shorter  stride  for  the  same  speed. 

5.  Greater  and  easier  separation  of  fore  and  hind. 

6.  Leverage  at  toe  more  dependent  on  a  greater  angle  of  foot. 

7.  Greater  length  of  whole  foot  decreasing  extension. 

8.  Weight  of  front  shoe  decreasing  action  and  slightly  increasing 
extension. 

9.  Weight  of  hind  shoe  decreasing  extension  and  increasing  action. 
10.     Toe-weights  decreasing  extension  of  fore. 

In  these  contrasts  the  shape  of  the  shoes  will,  of  course,  have  a 
modifying  influence  such  as  has  been  discussed  before  and  as  may  be 
left  to  the  requirements  of  each  individual  horse. 

While  these  general  principles  hold  true .  for  various  kinds  of 
horses,  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  combinations  regarding  gait  and 
general  make-up,  as  found  in  each  horse,  are  very  varied  and  may 
therefore  require  special  adjustments.  This  exposition  of  the  gait  of 
our  harness  horse,  with  its  illustrative  experiments,  should,  however, 
lead  to  a  solution  of  balance  in  every  case,  provided  the  method  by 
which  the  gait  of  each  horse  can  be  analyzed  is  employed  every  time. 
In  all  questions  of  balance  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  any  defi- 
ciency of  gait  is  either  absolute  or  relative ;  that  is  to  say,  the  absence 
of  a  desirable  quality  or  capacity  is  either  lacking  entirely,  or  it  is  com- 
pensated by  a  strongly  developed  quality  or  capacity  elsewhere  in  the 
total  make-up  of  the  horse.  If  there  is  no  such  compensation,  then  the 
harmony  of  motion  is  seriously  and  perhaps  permanently  affected,  and 
it  will  be  difficult  to  establish  any  sort  of  an  equilibrium  between  the 
parts  of  such  a  disordered  mechanism. 

In  conclusion,  I  wish  to  point  out  again  the  three  conditions  that 
each  track  presents  in  more  or  less  varied  degree,  and  which  affect  the 
balance  of  the  horse.  These  are:  the  soil,  the  turns  and  the  grades. 


294  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  end  Pacer 

The  first  of  these  concerns  the  shape  of  the  shoe,  and  the  last  two 
relate  to  the  shape  of  the  foot.  Certain  tracks  suit  some  horses  better 
than  others,  and  such  a  fact  may  be  explained  by  the  effect  which  such 
conditions  have  on  their  deficient  gait.  The  soil,  turns  and  grades  may 
all,  or  any  one  of  them,  prove  to  be  compensations  for  such  deficiencies 
in  that  horse.  If  not  too  marked,  these  conditions  can  be  counteracted 
by  a  searching  test  of  proper  balance  on  the  home  track. 

Leaying  the  condition  of  the  soil  to  the  good  sense  and  judgment 
of  the  owners  of  tracks,  and  referring  again  to  the  discussion  of  the 
turns  of  the  track  in  Chapter  VI,  I  wish  to  lay  particular  stress  now 
on  the  results  of  the  downhill  and  uphill  trials  here  set  forth.  It 
seemed  to  me  very  important  to  base  many  experiments  and  their  deduc- 
tions on  such  a  slightly  downhill  course,  because  often  the  stretches  of 
the  tracks  have  such  an  incline,  and  especially  so  the  homestretch. 
Here  we  see  the  supreme  effort  of  the  horse,  so  that  all  adjustment  of 
balance  should  take  into  account  such  a  probable  event.  Such  a  test 
seems  to  conform  more  truly  to  the  actual  and  practical  conditions  met 
with  at  other  places  and  at  critical  moments. 

It  may  happen  that  the  adjustment  of  shoes  which  worked 
well  at  home  will  not  meet  the  requirements  of  different  and  strange 
conditions  quite  as  readily  abroad.  It  was  with  such  occurrences  in 
mind  that  these  comparisons  between  uphill  and  downhill  locomotion 
were  made.  The  main  object,  after  all,  in  balancing,  is  to  be  prepared 
for  all  or  nearly  all  conditions,  except  those  of  a  notoriously  rough 
track.  This  preparedness  for  conditions  differing  from  those  that  ob- 
tain at  the  home  track  is  also  largely  a  matter  of  education  with  the 
horse.  For,  the  foundation  of  such  a  training  should  at  all  times  be  the 
confidence  of  the  horse  in  himself,  and  this  self-reliance — as  it  might 
almost  be  called — is  not  only  fostered  but  also  directly  produced  by 
an  equalization  of  the  action  of  both  fore  and  hind  such  as  was  here 
set  forth. 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE  MAIN  FEATURES  OF  MEASUREMENTS. 


To  save  time  and  to  bring  this  method  of  measuring  the  tracks 
within  the  reach  of  all  progressive  trainers,  its  principal  points  are 
here  given  in  as  concise  a  manner  as  possible. 

A  square  gait  must  be  based  on  equal  or  nearly  equal  extensions 
of  the  four  moving  feet.  The  separation  of  the  fore  and  hind  legs 
should  be  based  on  their  distance  from  each  other  when  at  rest.  If 
this  distance  appears  to  be  reasonable  to  the  eye,  and  if  the  attitude  of 
the  horse  at  rest  is  fairly  satisfactory,  it  may  be  taken  as  a  basis  for 
comparison  with  such  average  distance  when  at  speed.  Shoeing  may 
throw  this  distance  between  the  extremities,  or  rather  between  the  cor- 
related feet,  out  of  harmony  with  effective  motion.  Pointing  forward 
or  backward,  when  at  rest,  may  be  increased  when  at  speed.  Muscular 
development  may  hinder  the  animal  to  get  into  a  good  swinging  gait, 
but  the  wrong  kind  of  balance  is  more  often -at  fault.  The  ''pointing'' 
of  a  horse  when  at  rest  and  the  distance  between  the  fore  and  the  hind 
feet  are  therefore  the  principles  on  which  are  based  the  proper  ex- 
tensions of  the  legs.  The  moment,  however,  the  animal  moves  fast, 
our  eyes  become  deficient  in  judgment  and  we  must  resort  to  the  rec- 
ords on  the  ground  for  any  reasonable  deductions. 

For  the  sake  of  simplicity  the  lateral  extensions  of  the  feet,  that 
is,  their  positions  with  reference  to  a  line  drawn  midway  between  the 
two  sulky  wheel  tracks,  can  be  left  to  the  judgment  of  the  eye.  A 
white  cord  stretched  in  the  middle  will  perhaps  be  sufficient  to  indicate 
irregularities  without  going  to  the  trouble  of  measuring  and  averaging 
all  the  distances  and  angles.  But  we  cannot  very  well  escape  the  labor 
of  measuring  the  distances  between  certain  feet  if  we  desire  to  have 
any  proper  idea  of  the  possible  defects  of  a  gait. 

The  loo-foot  tape  line  divided  into  tenths  and  twentieths  of  a  foot 

295 


296 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


must  be  used  again;  that  is,  i/io  being  =  o.io  and  1/20  =  0.05  in  the 
decimal  notation.  A  glance  at  the  tracks  of  the  feet  directly  after  a  trial 
FIG.  210.  FIG.  211.  FIG.  212. 


A 


o 

?X 

of 

O 

»X 

oj 


O 
*£ 


O 


oh  TI 
ofT7 

rfe 
^Fih 


IT_nh 
SFTI 


oh^TI 
of  75 


will  readily  show  if  the  "overstep"  in  the  trot,  for  instance,  is  of  equal 
length  on  both  sides.    The  fore  and  the  hind  on  either  side  will  be  seen 


The  Main  Features  of  Measurements  297 

close  together  in  both  the  trot  and  the  pace.  In  the  trot  it  shows  the 
overreaching  of  the  hind,  in  the  pace  it  shows  the  distance  of  the  lateral 
feet  as  they  move  together.  Fig.  210  gives  the  overstep  of  the  trot  in 
brackets.  The  distances  need  not  be  computed,  but  may  serve  as  an 
immediate  indication  of  unequal  extensions  if  they  appear  unequal. 
This  is  easily  detected  by  the  eye,  because  they  are  close  enough  together 
to  discover  it  at  a  glance  as  we  walk  along  the  line.  If  these  distances, 
therefore,  are  unequal,  or  very  much  greater  on  one  side,  we  suspect 
that  either  the  hind  foot  points  forward  too  much  or  that  the  fore 
points  back  too  far ;  in  other  words,  that  the  swing  of  those  two  legs  is 
not  the  same.  The  shorter  distance  of  the  overstep  on  the  opposite  side 
would  point  to  the  other  extreme,  namely,  that  the  hind  leg  lacked  for- 
ward extension  or  that  the  fore  had  excessive  forward  extension.  Let 
us  consult  the  diagram  showing  the  distances  from  one  fore  to  its  op- 
posite mate  and  from  one  hind  to  its  opposite  mate  (Fig.  211).  The 
illustration  presumes  the  regularity  of  extensions,  but  it  may  become 
more  apparent  from  Fig.  212  (which  notes  the  distances  between  the 
diagonal  feet  in  the  trot)  that,  even  though  the  overstep  may  be  un- 
equal on  both  sides,  the  distance  between  the  diagonal  feet  may  be  the 
same  for  both  pairs  of  feet.  For  if,  for  instance,  the  overstep  on  the 
right  side  is  one  foot  longer  than  on  the  left  side  or  the  overstep  on 
the  left  side  correspondingly  shorter,  it  is  still  possible  for  the  dis- 
tances of  the  diagonal  feet  to  be  the  same. 

In  Fig.  212  we  may  think  of  the  block  contained  within  the  top  and 
bottom  cross-lines  and  the  diagonal  line  connecting  the  correlated  feet 
of  the  trot  as  being  moved  up  toward  the  block  holding  the  other  pair 
of  correlated  feet,  and  thereby  increase  the  overstep  on  the  right  side 
and  diminish  the  same  on  the  left  side  without  changing  the  equality 
of  these  diagonal  distances  so  moved.  AH  this,  however,  amounts  to  a 
preliminary  inspection  of  the  tracks.  The  real  test  lies  in  the  measure- 
ments and  the  averages.  Taking,  for  instance,  an  actual  trial  where 
the  stride  was  18.1  ft.  and  the  oversteps  were  found  to  be: 

Near  side   :  5.24  ft. 

Off  side      :  4.42  ft. 
we  have  a  difference  of  0.82  ft,  or  9.84  inches  as  an  excess  on  near  side. 


298 


Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 


It  was  caused  by  a  greater  extension  of  one  pair  of  correlated  feet, 
namely,  the  off  fore  and  the  near  hind.  The  greater  forward  extension 
of  the  off  fore  over  that  of  the  near  fore  was  0.38  ft.,  or  4.56  in.,  and 
the  greater  forward  extension  of  near  hind  over  that  of  off  hind  was 
0.43  ft.  or  5.16  in.  In  spite  of  this  difference  of  extensions,  we  find 
the  distances  between  the  diagonal  feet  nearly  alike,  viz. : 

Near  fore  —  off  hind    :  4.25  ft. 
Off  fore  —  near  hind    :  4.20  ft. 

which  makes  a  difference  of  0.05  ft.  or  0.6.,  a  negligible  quantity  in  the 
gait.  This  difference  appears  above  when  we  take  the  difference  be- 
tween the  extensions  of  the  fore  and  the  hind  legs,  which  is,  as  above, 
0.43  ft.  —  0.38  ft.  =  0.05  ft.,  or  0.6  in. ;  but  a  gait  of  this  sort  is  apt  to 
cause  interference  on  the  side  of  the  overactive  hind  leg,  as  in  this 
case  the  near  hind. 

The  same  subject  gives  a  better  example  of  a  trot  in  a  later  trial. 
Here  we  have  a  stride  of  18.64  ft*  an<^  a  smaller  distance  of  3.82  ft, 
as  the  average  separation  between  the  fore  and  the  hind  feet.  Once 
more  I  desire  to  bring  before  the  reader  the  table  containing  the  con- 
tinuous measurements  with  the  looft.  tape  line.  It  presents  the  fol- 
lowing figures,  which  are  easily  read  off  the  ground  and  jotted  down 
in  the  note  book : 


Fore 

Hind 

Fore 

Hind 

Fore 

Kind 

n 

— 

5-40 

n 

130.65 

136.50 

11 

261.50 

267.10 

0 

9.40 

14.95 

0 

140.40 

146.05 

o 

270.85 

276.55 

n 

18.90 

24.25 

n 

149.60 

i55-io 

n 

280.15 

285.65 

0 

28.20 

33-6o 

o 

158.90 

164-55 

0 

289.25 

294-75 

n 

37-45 

42.85 

n 

168.30 

173-75 

n 

298.55 

304.20 

0 

46.75 

52-30 

P 

177.65 

183-25 

o 

308.10 

313-30 

n 

56.15 

61.65 

11 

187.00 

192.55 

n 

317.10 

322.45 

0 

65.45 

71.10 

0 

196.30 

202.00 

0 

326.35 

331-90 

n 

74-95 

80.45 

11 

205-45 

210.75 

n 

336.oo 

340.85 

o 

84-25 

89.95 

0 

214.50 

220.55 

o 

344-90 

350.30 

n 

93-65 

99.05 

n 

224.65 

229.65 

n 

354-25 

359.50 

0 

102.80 

108.55 

o 

233-55 

239-05 

0 

363-50 

368.95 

n 

112.40 

117.85 

n 

242.75 

248.25 

n 

372-85 

378.35 

0 

121.50 

126.80 

o 

252.00 

257.90 

0 

382.20 

387.60 

The  Main  Features  of  Measurements  299 

The  loo-ft.  tape  line  was  therefore  stretched  four  times  to  take 
the  desired  20  strides.  From  toe  to  toe  the  figures  are  taken  down  as 
they  are  found,  taking  care  now  and  then  to  see  that  the  feet  on  the 
ground  correspond  with  those  in  the  note  book.  To  get  at  the  length 
of  the  stride  quickly  we  may  divide  the  twentieth  near  fore  measure- 
ment (372.85)  by  twenty,  which  is  18.64  ft-  If  we  care  to  find  the 
total  variations  from  the  average  we  will  have  to  find  the  twenty 
strides  of  each  leg  and  line  them  up  in  four  columns,  with  the  varia- 
tions or  differences  in  plus  and  minus  from  the  average.  The  complete 
table  is  found  in  the  investigation  of  Lou  Dillon's  gait.  Here  we  shall 
not  enter  upon  the  matter. 

The  next  step  would  be  to  find  the  distances  from  one  fore  to  the 
opposite  fore  and  from  one  hind  to  the  opposite  hind.  This  will  not  be 
difficult  to  find  from  the  table  of  measurements,  and  for  the  four  legs 
it  reads  as  follows : 

Fore  Hind 

off  to  near         near  to  off  off  to  near         near  to  off 

9-50  9-30  9-30  9-35 

9-25  9.30  9.25  9.45 

9-40  9-30  9-35  9-45 

9-50  9-30  9-35  9-50 

9.40  9.15  9.10  9.50 

9.60  9.10  9.30  8.95* 

9.15  9.75*  9.70*  9.55 

9.20  9.30  9.05*  9.45 

9.40  9.35  9.20  9.50 

9-35  9-30  9-30  9-45 

9.15  9.05  8.75*  9.80* 

10.15*  8.90*  9.10  9-4O 

9.20  9.25  9.20  9.65* 

9-50  9-35  9-20  9.45 

9.30  9.10  9.10  9.10 

9-30  9-55  9-45  9-io 

9.00*  9.25  9.15  9.45 

9.65*  8.90*  8.95  9.45 

9-35  9-25  9-20  9.45 

9-35  9-35  9-40  9-25 


20)187.70  20)185.10  20)184.40  20)188.25 

9-38  9.25  9.22  9.41 

+  0.13         (Average:  9.318  ft.,  or  9.32  ft.)         +  o.io 


300  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

The  average  distance  between  the  fore  and  between  the  hind  is 
9.32  ft.,  which  is  one-half  of  the  stride,  18.64  ft.  In  an  equal  gait  the 
sum  total  of  the  two  fore  extensions,  as  well  as  that  of  the  two  hind 
extensions,  equals,  or  nearly  equals,  the  length  of  the  stride:  9.32  X  2 
=  18.64;  and  even  in  a  gait  of  unequal  extensions  the  sum  of  both  fore 
and  both  hind  extensions  generally  equals  the  stride.  But  the  average 
extension  of  each  foot  does  not  make  up  one-half  of  the  stride  of  that 
particular  leg  in  the  above  trial ;  that  is  to  say,  9.38  X  2,  or  18.76,  is 
not  the  stride  of  the  near  fore  and  so  on.  The  difference  between  the 
fore  and  between  the  hind  extensions  must  be  averaged  for  each  pair ; 
that  is  to  say,  the  near  fore  in  its  position  with  reference  to  the  off  fore 
is  o-M  ft  ahead  of  the  position  of  the  latter,  or  0.065  ft-  —  °-7&  inch, 
and  likewise  the  off  hind  precedes  the  near  hind  with  an  average  dis- 
tance between  it  and  the  near  hind  of  2A§  ft.,  or  1.14  in.  The  stride 
of  each  leg  averages  the  same,  namely,  18.64  ft->  f°r>  if  it  did  not, 
then  the  horse  would  not  trot,  but  break  into  a  run. 

We  notice,  therefore,  a  slightly  greater  extension  of  the  off  hind 
over  that  of  its  diagonal  or  correlated  mate,  the  near  fore,  which  is 
1.14  —  0.78,  or  0.36  in.,  which  will  appear  as  the  difference  between  the 
averages  of  the  distance  of  the  two  pairs  of  diagonal  feet. 

Again  taking  up  the  table  of  continuous  measurements,  as  they 
were  put  down  from  the  actual  trial,  we  can  easily  ascertain  these 
diagonal  distances  by  subtracting  the  figures  of  each  hind  leg  on  the 
right  side  from  its  mate  on  line  diagonally  below.  Starting,  as  usual, 
with  the  first  stride  of  near  fore  (18.90),  we  take  from  it  the  preced- 
ing measurement  of  the  off  hind  (14.95)  and  Put  down  in  the  column 
marked  "near  fore  —  off  hind"  the  difference  of  3.95.  Proceeding  to 
the  next  stride  of  off  fore,  or  rather  its  measurement  of  28.90  ft.,  we 
take  from  it  the  measurement  of  its  preceding  near  hind,  24.25  ft., 
which  gives  us  3.95  again  for  the  distance  between  the  other  pair  of 
correlated  or  diagonal  feet  marked  "off  fore  —  near  hind."  Carrying 
this  out  for  the  twenty  strides,  we  have  the  following  table : 


The  Main  Features  of  Measurements  301 

Near  Fore  —  Off  Hind  Off  Fore  —  Near  Hind 

3.95  Average                    3.95 

3-85  3-82                       3.90 

3-85  3-80 

3-85  3-80 

3-70  3-75 

3-85  3-65* 

3-85  3-90 


3-90 
3-75 
3-75 
3.90 

3-75 

3.75 

3.60 

3.90 

3.90 

4-05* 

4-oo 

3-85 


20)  76.65 
3-80  3.83 

-\-  0.03  or  0.36  in. 

The  asterisks  in  this  and  the  preceding  table  are  meant  to  call  at- 
tention to  the  lack  or  the  exc'ess  of  such  distances,  showing  that  they 
are  not  always  the  same.  As  before  mentioned,  the  average  of  each 
total  is  the  only  reliable  test  as  to  any  deficiencies. 

From  these  tables  we  are,  therefore,  able  to  judge  of  the  ex- 
tensions of  the  four  moving  feet.  The  small  difference  in  the  two 
diagonal  distances  being  only  0.36  in.,  becomes  negligible  in  the  estimate 
of  the  gait;  that  is  to  say,  when  the  greater  extensions  of  two  cor- 
related feet  are  not  excessive  and  nearly  the  same  (0.16  and  0.19),  the 
gait  of  the  horse  so  examined  is  practically  a  square  one.  If  the  time 
or  labor  of  the  calculations  from  the  continuous  measurements  is  con- 
fined only  to  the  first  table,  namely,  that  of  the  extensions  of  the  fore 
and  of  the  hind  with  reference  to  their  opposite  mates,  it  would  almost 


3p2  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

be  enough  to  get  an  idea  of  any  existing  irregularity  of  the  gait  in 
question.  If,  therefore,  the  trainer  does  nothing  else  but  take  down 
the  straight  measurements  and  establish  the  extensions  illustrated  by 
Fig.  211,  he  will  have  a  quick  and  fairly  good  analysis  of  the  gait  in 
question ;  always  provided  that  he  also  uses  the  white  cord  as  a  middle 
line  of  reference  as  to  the  various  good  or  faulty  positions  of  the  feet, 
and  observes  the  character  of  the  impressions  left  on  the  ground.  For, 
the  nature  of  the  concussions  of  the  shoe  with  the  ground  may  give 
further  clews  as  to  any  impediments  caused  by  a  wrong  adjustment  in 
the  shoeing. 

As  in  the  trot,  so  in  the  pace,  the  most  important  measurements 
or  distances  are  those  between  the  opposite  fore  and  the  opposite  hind, 
and  those  between  the  lateral  or  correlated  feet.  For,  the  latter  cor- 
respond to  the  diagonal  pairs  in  the  trot  and  should  likewise  be  equal 
in  distance  for  both  sides.  Figs.  213  and  214  give  the  positions  of  feet 
and  the  distances  to  be  measured.  The  proceeding  is  the  same  as  that 
in  the  trotting  trial,  with  the  exception  that  the  hind  feet  follow  in- 
stead of  precede  the  fore  feet  on  the  ground.  All  resulting  tables  of 
the  various  measurements  have,  therefore,  the  first  column  marked 
"hind"  and  the  second  "fore,"  the  reverse  of  those  for  the  trot.  Not 
having  a  good  example  for  an  illustration,  I  leave  the  matter  to  the 
reader,  who  will  no  doubt  be  able  to  figure  on  the  same  lines  as  given 
in  the  trot,  always  remembering  the  reversing  of  hind  feet,  which  fol- 
low the  fore  in  the  pace. 

In  urging  trainers  to  keep  records  of  the  various  shoeings  and  of 
the  trials  so  measured,  I  advocate  but  the  prevailing  methods  of  any 
business  or  undertaking,  where  reference  to  past  events  serve  as  in- 
structions for  improvements.  Without  records  no  work  of  any  sort 
can  possibly  be  progressive  and  satisfactory.  We  must  avoid  mistakes 
to  get  along  better  than  before.  All  changes  and  results  must  be  on  rec- 
ord so  that  reference  can  be  made  to  them  at  any  time.  Angles  and 
lengths  of  toes  should  be  accurately  repeated  at  each  shoeing,  unless 
there  is  a  valid  reason  for  a  change.  Changes  should  be  gradual,  and 
time  be  allowed  for  the  effect  of  a  change.  Equal  angles  for  the  fore 
and  equal  angles  for  the  hind  feet,  as  well  as  equal  lengths  of  toes, 


The  Main  Features  of  Measurements 


303 


should  form  the  basis  from  which  to  start  an  investigation  of  this 

sort  ;  and  the  shape  of  the  shoes  should  only  then  vary  from  the  simple, 

FIG.  213  FIG.  214. 


<\f 

,nh 


nh 


£ 


oh 


or 


ft 


oh 


I 


oh 


£ 


tf 

nh 


"f 

nh 


"f 
nh 


sane  and  safe  variety  when  necessity  seems  to  demand  a  particular 
shoe.  The  same  is  true  of  unequal  weights  which  the  gait  of  a  horse 
may  at  times  require.  Vigilance  at  the  shoeing  and  accuracy  in  the 


304  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

trials  when  taking  the  few  measurements  and  observations  On  the 
ground  so  gone  over,  should  soon  lead  not  only  to  a  quicker  under- 
standing of  the  gait  in  question,  but  also  to  better  results  in  balancing 
the  horse.  Even  if  the  remedy  is  not  readily  at  hand — and  I  do  not 
claim  to  have  furnished  specific  remedies — there  remains  this  method 
of  finding  out  the  conditions  of  the  gait ;  and  the  general  principles  as 
demonstrated  will  finally  lead  to  the*  proper  remedies  for  a  faulty  gait. 


o 

IH 

r^ 

3  . 

fe     ""C 

.2  J 

J  "So 


CHAPTER  XL 


A  PLEA  FOR  A  USEFUL  TROTTER  AND 
CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 


«  *  *  *  Wherever  the  trotting  horse  goes,  he  carries  in  his 
train  brisk  omnibuses,  lively  bakers'  carts  (and  therefore  hot  rolls), 
the  jolly  butcher's  wagon,  the  cheerful  gig,  the  wholesome  afternoon 
drive  with  wife  and  child,  all  the  forms  of  moral  excellence — except 
truth,  which  does  not  agree  with  any  kind  of  horseflesh.  The  racer 
brings  with  him  gambling,  cursing,  'swearing,  drinking,  the  eating  of 
oysters,  and  a  distaste  for  the  mobcaps  and  the  middle-aged  virtues." 

—Oliver  Wendell  Holmes. 

Thus  prophetically  did  charming  old  Dr.  Holmes  sound  the  praise, 
years  ago,  of  a  class  of  horses  that  our  nation  can  really  be  proud  of 
at  the  present  time.  It  is  well  to  have  so  broadminded  a  man  of  science, 
and  a  poet  besides,  make  this  radical  distinction  between  the  trotter 
and  the  thoroughbred  running  horse.  Even  though  he  calls  in  ques- 
tion the  truthfulness  not  of  the  trotter  himself  but  of  the  men  who  use 
him,  he  emphasizes  his  greater  usefulness  and  sets  it  off  against  the 
results  following  from  the  devotion  to  a  mere  pleasure  animal,  the 
machine  in  motion  used  to  satisfy  a  craving  for  gambling  and  all  its 
attendant  evils  as  enumerated. 

Usefulness  here  means  that  a  horse  not  only  should  be  able  to  do 
a  lot  of  work,  but  also  that  he  should  perform  it  with  intelligence. 
The  more  intelligent  a  horse  is,  the  longer  will  he  last  and  the  better 
will  be  his  services.  The  great  docility  of  the  desert  Arab  proves  that 
a  close  contact  with  man  molds  the  mind  and  disposition  of  the  horse. 
Every  breeder  has  had  similar  experiences.  Our  nation  is  raising 
level-headed  trotters  because  the  American  breeder  and  trainer  are 

305 


306  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

level-headed.  I  lay  great  stress  on  the  moral  evolution  of  the  Ameri- 
can trotting  stock,  for  without  courage,  without  will  power,  without 
good  manners,  without  obedience,  without  a  high  intelligence,  the  pres- 
.  ent  prominence  of  the  trotter  could  not  have  been  attained.  These 
essential  qualities,  so  important  in  the  life  of  a  horse,  are  mainly  the 
work  of  our  American  breeder.  By  education  and  by  public  speed 
contests  the  standard  bred  horse  has  gone  through  an  evolution  that 
more  and  more  establishes  a  breed  of  horses  typically  American.  It  is 
but  rational  that  horses  should  publicly  prove  their  strength  and  en- 
durance and,  though  speed  is  made  the  only  test  of  eligibility  for  reg- 
istration, the  contests  demand  a  showing  of  qualities  that  will  insure 
progenitors  of  a  robust  race  of  horses. 

Of  late  years  the  treatment  of  the  trotter  has  been  more  or  less  on 
lines  of  usefulness.  Barring  the  heaviest  kind  of  work,  we  have 
among  the  representatives  of  the  standard  bred  horse  satisfactory  ma- 
terial for  nearly  all  purposes  in  the  country  as  well  as  in  the  city,  on 
the  farm  as  well  as  on  the  track.  Whether  in  front  of  the  carriage, 
buggy,  spring  wagon,  delivery  wagon,  or  the  implements  of  the  field 
and  orchard,  we  have  had  ample  evidence  that  the  American  standard 
bred  horse  "fills  the  bill,"  because  he  has  the  disposition  and  the  in- 
telligence for  such  work.  Some  of  our  greatest  trotters  were  bred  by 
small  breeders.  No  truer  words  were  ever  written  than  these:  that 
the  brood-mare,  to  show  great  results,  must  be  "under  the  hands  of  the 
breeder;  he  works  and  feeds  her  well.  All  the  secret  of  his  breeding 
lies  in  these  few  words/'  My  own  experience  and  observation  corro- 
borate this  truth.  At  bottom  of  all  horse  breeding  stands  the  small 
farm  with  its  one  or  two  choice  broodmares.  The  small  breeder  is  the 
backbone  of  all  breeding  interests,  and  if  the  American  trotter  is  to 
fulfill  his  mission  of  becoming  a  national  type,  appreciated  everywhere 
for  his  intelligence,  strength  and  quality,  it  would  be  well  to  frame 
his  qualifications  on  other  requirements  than  just  speed  alone.  We 
need  size  and  weight  in  the  trotter  if  the  animal  is  to  be  a  useful  one. 
He  should  not  become  a  mere  racing  machine  or  a  rich  man's  toy.  In 
this  republic  of  ours  the  trotting  turf  is  democratic  and  the  exhibitions 
of  speed  are  "of  the  people,  for  the  people,  and  by  the  people."  Great 


A  Pica  for  a  Use/id  Trotter  307 

trotters  and  pacers,  like  great  men,  often  spring  from  lowly  surround- 
ings, where  work  and  frugality  impart  vim  to  the  offspring,  and  where 
the  unremitting  care  and  the  personal  attention  of  the  owner  build  up 
the  health  and  energy  and  the  confidence  of  the  animal.  As  a  wine- 
grower I  would  venture  the  comparison  that  great  trotters  are  like 
great  wines — for  the"  can  be  raised  and  properly  matured  only  in 
small  lots. 

The  key  to  the  whole  problem  of  interesting  all  breeders — in- 
cluding the  farmer  who  breeds  most  horses — in  the  harness  contests 
lies  in  a  more  adequate  classification  of  our  standard  bred  horse.  The 
mere  "2:30  standard"  is  often  unsatisfactory  to  practical  breeders  be- 
cause it  sets  no  limit  to  the  smallness  of  the  horse,  and  because  it 
represents  or  encourages  qualities  for  racing  rather  than  for  useful 
purposes.  Every  useful  horse  should  combine  size  with  quality,  in- 
telligence with  endurance,  and  weight  with  vigor ;  and  the  develop- 
ment of  our  standard  bred  horse  should  be  encouraged  along  such 
lines  of  utility. 

It  is  not  here  intended  to  disparage  in  any  manner  the  importance 
of  the  "2:30  standard"  or  the  great  work  of  the  Trotting  Register, 
which  by  the  genius  of  the  late  John  H.  Wallace  has  given  the  breed 
of  the  harness  horse  a  certain  foundation  and  direction.  There  was 
and  is  great  need  of  just  such  a  guiding  principle  to  develop  and  es- 
tablish this  type  of  a  horse,  and  it  has  proved  to  be  of  inestimable 
value  to  this  industry.  In  fact,  it  would  be  far  better  for  harness 
racing  and  the  whole  development  of  the  harness  horse  if  only  regis- 
tered horses  were  allowed  to  start  in  races. 

The  Register  takes  the  place  of  government  supervision  to  some 
extent  or  of  the  registration  of  stallions  as  practiced  on  the  continent. 
Progressive  development,  however,  seems  to  call  for  a  better  criterion 
than  a  test  of  speed  only.  A  standard  based  on  speed  alone  is  apt 
to  disregard  and  even  eliminate  size  and  weight  as  hindrances  to  its 
end.  As  many  harness  horses  show  and  possess  these  qualities  it 
seems  but  fair  that  they  should  be  recognized  by  reason  of  their  use- 
fulness ;  and  an  allowance  for  such  a  handicap  should  be  made  by 
means  of  a  more  equitable  classification  of  the  standard  bred  horse. 


308  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

If,  therefore,  the  trotter  is  to  be  a  useful  horse  his  development  should 
be  along  broader  lines,  so  that  all  breeders  of  the  harness  horse  may 
have  a  chance  to  obtain  full  justice  for  their  efforts  in  the  breeding  of 
heavier  harness  horses. 

While  for  the  light  trotter  2:30  is  a  comparatively  slow  record, 
it  becomes  a  much  more  difficult  feat  for  the  heavier  trotter;  and 
simple  justice  to  all  breeders  demands  that  weight  and  size  be  made 
conditions  of  registration,  so  that  not  only  the  merits  of  the  individual 
could  be  more  readily  recognized,  but  also  the  speed  contests  would 
present  more  uniformity  of  classes.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  such  a  plan 
will  meet  with  the  approval  of  the  breeders  in  general,  because  it  seems 
to  put  the  breeding  of  the  harness  horse  on  a  more  systematic  and 
sensible  basis.  A  threefold  division,  therefore,  into  light,  medium 
and  heavy  horses,  such  as  (i),  8001000  Ibs.,  and  up  to  15}^  hands 
tall;  (2),  IOOO-I2OO  Ibs.,  and  from  15^/2  to  16^2  hands  tall,  and  (3), 
1200-1400  Ibs.  and  over  i6l/2  hands  tall — there  being  also  provided 
three  respective  standards  of  speed  for  these  divisions,  namely,  2:15, 
2 :2O  and  2 130,  to  make  the  individual  horse  eligible  for  registration — 
would  not  only  make  speed  contests  more  interesting  for  the  spectator, 
but  would  also  grade  our  harness  horse  into  proper  groups  for  judg- 
ment and  selection.  As  it  is  now,  all  discriminating  foreigners  com- 
ment unfavorably  on  our  greatly  mixed  lot  of  standard  bred  horses 
of  all  sizes,  looks  and  weights.  They  maintain  that  we  have  no 
definite  type  of  a  harness  horse,  and  when  they  buy  our  horses  it 
will  be  noticed  that  their  selection  is  along  lines  of  strength,  size  and 
quality  besides  speed. 

Like  the  recent  innovation  of  handicapping  by  distances  at  the 
start  according  to  record  or  trial  speed,  this  reasonable  classification 
would  also  prove  to  be  an  advancement  of  the  cause.  It  would  induce 
many  breeders  to  remain  loyal  to  the  standard  bred  horse  who  are 
apt  to  turn  to  other  types  for  weight  and  size,  and  would  enable  many 
progressive  secretaries  to  vary  their  programs  and  thus  enhance  the 
general  interest  in  the  speed  trials. 

We  do  not  want  speed  alone,  for  that  the  running  horse  has  to  a 
far  greater  extent,  and  we  know  that  the  excitement  of  speed  alone 


A  Plea  for  a  Useful  Trotter  309 

brings  in  its  wake  much  betting  and  gambling.  The  running  horse  or 
thoroughbred  has  become  merely  a  card  in  a  game  of  chance.  The 
harness  horse,  on  the  other  hand,  is  still  admired  as  an  individual.  As 
long  as  the  public  interest  is  centered  on  the  horse  rather  than  on  the 
betting,  and  as  long  as  the  individual  horse  remains  an  attractive  ob- 
ject at  the  races,  a  bright  future  for  the  American  harness  horse  is 
assured.  It  has  ever  been  my  opinion  that  harness  racing  or  speed 
contests  could  and  should  be  conducted  entirely  without  any  public 
betting  system,  because  for  such  events  should  be  enlisted  the  best 
element  of  society.  Throngs  of  women  and  children  will  then  grace 
the  exhibitions  with  their  delightful  presence,  and  your  strict  business 
man  will  unbend  and  be  less  critical  in  his  judgment  of  legitimate, 
clean  sport.  It  may  be  argued  that  betting,  or  taking  a  chance  on  the 
outcome  of  an  event,  is  inherent  in  human  nature.  Differences  of 
opinions  and  the  conceit  of  one's  judgment  are  the  elements  that 
underlie  this  spirit  of  chance;  but  to  arouse  this  human  trait  to  con- 
tinual action  by  a  system  of  which  men  make  a  business,  is  to  under- 
mine all  honest  labor  and  enterprise.  It  is  this  "business"  (?)  of 
betting  that  has  made  continuous  racing  possible.  Continuous  racing 
is  an  evil  like  immoderate  drinking,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  the 
"merry-go-round"  across  our  Bay  here  was  largely  responsible  for 
much  crime,  and  especially  for  the  numerous  embezzlements  occurring 
in  this  community. 

The  consequent  prejudice  against  all  racing  hits  harness  contests 
as  well.  The  only  way  to  gain  the  favor  of  the  general  and  the  better 
public  is  to  abolish  all  systems  of  betting.  Out  here  in  the  Far  West, 
where  matters  in  general  are  still  a  bit  "wild  and  woolly,"  gambling  still 
holds  sway,  and  the  running  horse  often  shares  the  track  with  the 
harness  horse,  much  to  the  latter's  detriment.  Continuous  racing  has 
vitiated  the  people's  taste  for  the  trotter  and  pacer.  This  state  has  the 
climate  and  the  soil  to  produce  the  best  type  of  a  standard  bred  horse, 
but  distances  are  great  between  the  important  towns,  and  the  popula- 
tion comparatively  thin,  and  railroad  transportation  slow,  and  inade- 
quate entirely.  In  consequence,  meetings  are  few  and  far  between — 
like  angels'  visits ;  and  yet  California  has  become  famous  for  her  trot- 


310  Gait  of  the -American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

ters  and  pacers.  The  reader  will  pardon  me  if  I  mention  that  among 
them  is  a  trio  bred  by  me :  Margaret  Worth  2:15,  El  Milagro  2 109  j4> 
and  Constancia  2 124 J4>  all  out  of  my  first  brood  mare  Adeline  Patti. 

The  point  of  utility,  entering  so  largely  and  justly  into  the  breed- 
ing of  the  trotter,  should  make  it  possible  for  the  farmer  to  breed  the 
stouter  and  heavier  ones  as  types  of  horses  fit  for  his  own  purposes 
and  for  the  demands  of  town  and  city.  There  seems  to  be  a  gulf, 
however,  between  the  tiller  of  the  soil  and  the  so-called  harness  horse 
man,  which  the  latter's  insistence  on  speed  has  considerably  widened. 
Some  thought  should  be  given  to  size  and  weight  in  order  to  reconcile 
these  two  classes  of  men  for  their  mutual  benefit.  I  can  not,  there- 
fore, recommend  too  urgently  the  necessity  of  making  of  the  harness 
horse  a  useful  one  besides  one  that  has  speed.  This  plea  is  especially 
aimed  at  the  trotter,  because  the  pacer  has  proved  to  me  in  this  hilly 
city — my  native  town — that  for  purposes  of  draft  his  locomotion  is  not 
as  effective  as  that  of  the  trotter.  In  fact,  up  and  down  the  steep 
grades  of  these  streets  the  pacer  is  at  a  decided  disadvantage  along- 
side of  the  trotter,  and  hence  his  usefulness  is  more  limited. 

The  attendance  and  the  support  of  the  agricultural  as  well  as  the 
urban  population  rests  upon  the  broad  ground  of  a  common  interest: 
the  useful  trotter.  Besides,  the  secretaries  of  the  various  associations 
that  give  meetings  or  exhibits  might  find  it  to  their  advantage  to  pre- 
sent a  greater  variety  of  speed  contests  and  'shows.  The  initiative,, 
therefore,  taken  by  Secretary  Charles  M.  Jewett  of  Readville,  Massa- 
chusetts, in  instituting  the  first  American  Trotting  Derby,  is  worth 
noting.  To  lay  particular  stress  on  so  promising  an  event,  the  picture 
of  the  winner,  Allen  Winter  2:06%,  appears  on  the  last  page  of  this 
book. 

The  views  here  expressed  are  those  of  a  spectator  in  the  grand- 
stand, with  no  other  desire  than  to  be  amused  and  to  get  his  money's 
worth  of  keen  enjoyment  by  a  varied  and  promptly  executed  program 
of  events.  There  is,  for  instance,  the  annoying  delay  of  the  flying 
start,  which  ought  to  be  modified.  Repeated  scoring  is  the  bane  of 
harness  racing.  A  race  should  be  promptly  called  as  well  as  promptly 
started. 


A  Plea  for  a  Useful  Trotter  311 

The  handicapping  system  is  likely  to  become  popular  not  only  be- 
cause it  enables  the  so-called  outclassed  horses  to  win  a  little  money  on 
the  circuit  of  meetings,  but  also  because  it  is  apt  to  do  away  with  the 
monotony  of  the  single-file  races,  where  certain  fast  horses  keep  at  the 
head  of  the  processions,  thanks  to  the  method  of  closing  the  entries 
very  early  in  the  season.  The  "glorious  uncertainty"  of  the  sport  is 
increased  by  the  handicap  system  and  will  not  fail  to  draw  a  large  and 
eager  crowd.  Even  here  I  must  plead  for  the  recognition  of  size  and 
substance  in  the  horse  as  being  the  very  features  that  constitute  the 
usefulness  of  the  harness  horse ;  and  in  handicapping  it  might  be  feas- 
ible to  take  into  consideration  these  admirable  qualities  and  the  accom- 
panying capacity  to  pull  weight,  as  compared  with  the  lack  of  such 
traits  in  the  much  speedier  horse. 

There  is,  however,  more  to  harness  racing  than  even  such  a  well- 
managed  innovation  as  a  handicap  race,  and  that  is  the  absolute  en- 
forcement of  that  set  of  rules  by  which  all  harness  races  are,  or  at 
least  should  be,  conducted.  If  these  rules  are  just  and  fair,  and  tend 
to  protect  the  vital  interests  of  harness  racing,  they  should  be  strictly 
enforced.  If  not,  then  they  should  be  abolished  or  amended.  But  in 
no  event  should  such  rules  be  ignored  by  any  official,  whatever  the 
custom  so  arrogated.  I  have  in  mind  a  flagrant  instance  of  arbitrary 
authority  assumed  by  two  secretaries.  The  repeal  of  an  objectionable 
rule  lies  in  a  proper  procedure  before  a  meeting;  but  nothing  so  under- 
mines harness  racing,  or  any  other  sport,  in  the  eyes  of  honest  men,  as 
the  questionable  rulings  or  arbitrary  decisions  of  indifferent  or  partial 
officials,  be  these  the  judges,  timers,  starters,  secretaries  or  members  of 
the  Boards  of  Review.  Against  such  decrees  an  upright  trainer  or 
owner  has  but  little  redress,  except  it  be  the  usually  ineffectual  proc- 
ess of  an  appeal.  For,  in  most  cases  the  decision  of  a  previous  inquiry 
will  be  sustained  on  the  general  principle  of  harmonious  concurrence ! 

Our  harness  horse  of  to-day,  with  his  two  gaits  of  trotting  and 
pacing,  tends  to  prove  that  the  inheritance  of  acquired  qualities  is  a 
larger  factor  in  the  laws  of  heredity  than  men  of  science  have  been 
willing  to  admit.  We  have  apparently  better  gaited  and  better  man- 
nered trotters  and  pacers  to-day  than  we  had  fifty  years  ago.  Besides, 


312  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

the  gaits  seem  to  come  more  easily  to  them,  and  the  speed,  though 
greater,  is  not  any  more  exhausting  or  detrimental  to  their  vitality. 
This  whole  investigation,  with  its  method  of  getting  at  the  locomotion 
of  the  horse,  is  in  line  with  the  endeavor  to  transmit  by  heredity  such 
an  acquired  trait  as  a  square  gait.  Unless  we  assume  it  to  be  true 
that  qualities  acquired  during  the  lifetime  of  an  individual  are  stamped, 
In  a  greater  or  lesser  degree,  upon  the  offspring,  all  breeders  would 
become  rather  despondent  in  their  efforts.  All  mankind,  in  fact,  would 
despair  of  a  better  state  of  affairs  in  this  world  years  hence.  Lately 
as  eminent  an  investigator  as  Luther  Burbank,  our  own  wizard  of  plant 
life,  has  voiced  his  opinion  on  the  heredity  of  acquired  qualities,  be- 
lieving with  Dr.  William  Darwin,  son  of  the  great  scientist  and  origi- 
nator of  the  theory  of  evolution,  that  such  may  be  transmitted.  It  is 
intended,  I  believe,  to.  convey  the  impression  that  such  qualities  will 
not  appear  as  fully  developed  ones,  but  rather  in  the  form  of  an  apti- 
tude, which  under  proper  direction  and  training  will  show  a  more 
natural  inclination  by  reason  of  such  transmission.  This  latent  fitness 
for  the  trot  or  the  pace  may  therefore  be  assumed  to  be  the  result  of 
development  in  both  parents.  The  gait  of  the  trot  is  even  more  of  an 
acquired  quality  than  that  of  the  pace.  We  have  had  guideless  pacers, 
but  not  yet  a  guideless  trotter ;  and  yet,  the  trotter  driven  with  loose  lines 
seems  to  indicate  that  such  evolution,  even  in  so  short  a  time,  has  per- 
fected the  motions  of  the  trot  through  successive  training  and  by  the 
mating  of  developed  individuals. 

In  view  of  such  intelligent  and  progressive  development  of  our 
harness  horse,  one  can  hardly  agree  with  the  opinion  of  a  recent  writer 
who  takes  the  stand  that  a  horse,  in  general,  is  an  unreasoning  coward 
that  should  be  thoroughly  deceived  and  intimidated  in  order  to  make 
of  him  a  tolerably  safe  servant  of  man.  It  was  there  argued  that  we 
attribute  imaginary  qualities  to  the  horse,  which  he  does  not  possess. 
The  only  trait  that  he  is  credited  with  is  his  home  instinct.  He  has 
no  courage,  no  faithfulness,  no  willingness  to  serve,  but  has  only  the 
sense  of  fear  largely  developed.  We  are  advised  to  work  on  his  fear 
so  as  to  remain  masters ;  otherwise  we  shall  be  bullied  or  even  injured. 
It  seems  to  me  that  such  a  view,  if  it  were  true,  would  widely  en- 


A  Plea  for  a  Useful  Tw>tter  313 

courage  cruelty.  Even  in  the  human  family,  control  by  intimidation  is 
too  often  resorted  to  and  smothers  the  best  traits  of  character.  'Above 
all,  it  kills  self-reliance.  It  is  so  with  the  horse,  for  fear  of  punish- 
ment is  not  apt  to  develop  courage  in  a  horse  any  more  than  it  does  in 
man. 

A  physical  coward  may  be  pardoned  when  his  stature  gives  him  a 
disadvantage  in  a  fight,  but  a  moral  coward  has  not  even  the  excuse 
that  a  horse  has,  namely,  that  of  being  in  ownership  and  subjection 
bound  to  one  man.  So  why  talk  of  fear  being  the  only  motive  of  the 
good  service  of  a  horse?  In  nine  cases  out  of  ten  when  there  is  any- 
thing wrong  with  a  horse  the  man  behind  will  prove  not  only  to  be  the 
coward,  but  also  the  fool,  in  this  combination  of  owner  and  servant. 
All  animals  should  be  ruled  with  a  firm  though  gentle  hand ;  but  there 
is  evidence  enough  among  harness  horses  of  the  folly  of  the  education 
by  fear  or  intimidation.  This  arraignment  of  the  horse  on  the  score  of 
fear  and  general  stupidity  is  sadly  out  of  harmony  with  the  results 
attained  from  the  training  of  our  harness  horse. 

Had  this  animal  been  treated  on  the  general  principle  of  intimida- 
tion we  could  not  to-day  boast  of  the  achievements  in  the  development 
of  the  harness  horse.  While  obedience  may  carry  within  it  some  fear, 
it  is  more  largely  a  matter  of  feeding  and  housing,  and  hence  a  conse- 
quent habit  on  the  part  of  the  horse,  and  this  habit  is  the  more  easily 
confirmed  if  the  horse  is  treated  well  and  without  intimidation.  While 
the  character  and  disposition  of  the  horse  varies  in  the  individual,  as  it 
does  in  the  human  family,  the  majority  of  the  horses  can  be  improved 
by  gentleness  rather  than  by  cruelty.  I  cannot  even  grant  the  demand 
that  the  domineering  habit  of  man  should  at  least  be  allowed  to  spend 
itself  on  animals  instead  of  on  defenseless  women  and  children.  For, 
men  who  have  this  lust  of  power  should  be  restrained  by  law  in  either 
case,  and  should  be  legally  prevented  from  training  our  harness  horses. 

The  great  success  of  the  trainers  of  the  harness  horse  seems  to 
disprove  such  a  course  of  treatment.  Although  the  difficulties  con- 
fronting the  trainer  are  many,  he  has  time  and  again  overcome  them 
by  his  level-headedness  and  his  patience.  Sometimes  he  achieves 
fame  because  of  his  perseverance  with  one  horse,  at  other  times  be- 


314  Gait  of  the  American  Trotter  and  Pacer 

cause  he  selects  horses  that  suit  him  in  temperament  anl  in  gait;  and 
again,  but  more  rarely,  because  he  is  successful  with  all  kinds  of  horses. 
We  cannot  always  be  choosers,  and  the  last  reason  proves  the  adapta- 
bility of  the  man.  This  is  a  position  calling  for  a  great  deal  of  study 
and  investigation  of  the  question  of  balancing.  In  such  cases  this 
book  may  be  of  some  assistance.  Its  investigations  may  not  always 
appear  to  be  as  conclusive  and  complete  as  desired,  but  in  his  work 
on  this  subject  the  writer  was  at  least  guided  by  the  simple  principle: 
a  little  less  mystery  and  a  little  wore  enlightenment.  Men  are  entitled 
to  their  convictions  and  to  their  business  secrets  which  by  hard  work 
they  have  acquired ;  but  it  seems  as  if  a  more  general  progress  is  gained 
in  any  line  of  work  by  the  more  widespread  knowledge  of  an  unr^r 
served  and  free  investigation.  Whatever  may  be  the  benefit  of  such  an 
investigation  and  whatever  view  may  be  taken  of  the  usefulness  of  the 
trotter,  the  deeper  meaning  of  the  service  of  this  horse,  as  well  as  of  all 
horses,  should  never  be  lost  sight  of.  This  great  service  rendered  hu- 
manity is  an  inherent  part  of  our  much  vaunted  civilization,  and 
should  be  judged  by  a  broader  standard  than  that  of  dollars  and  cents. 
By  that  service  the  horse  is  preeminently  entitled  to  the  full  measure  of 
a  fair  treatment.  The  still  prevalent  inhumanity  of  man  to  animals 
is  no  doubt  a  transmitted  taint  from  the  primeval  ferocity  of  the 
human  breed,  which  evolution  has  not  yet  blotted  out  by  a  greater 
sense  of  responsibility.  Cruelty  and  thoughtlessness  make  the  life  of 
most  horses  a  tragedy,  and  my  plea  for  the  trotter  would  be  incom- 
plete if  there  were  not  added  to  it  this  earnest  appeal  to  my  fellowmen : 
BE  MERCIFUL! 


INDEX. 


ACTION — Its  curves,  22;  and  exten- 
sion, 24-25;  194;  of  knee  and  hock, 
35>  36,  171;  fore  and  hind  har- 
mony, 26-39;  under  saddle,  37-38; 
standard  of,  39;  remarkable  hind, 
69;  symmetry  of,  86;  harmony 
spoilt,  90;  quickened,  114;  regu- 
larity of,  121 ;  hind  neglected,  121; 
total  and  proportions,  122;  right 
hind,  150;  inverse  ratio,  157;  fore 
high-hind  low,  163 ;  regulated,  165 ; 
fore  and  hind,  166;  curves  of,  167- 
170;  checking  extension,  170;  by 
shoe,  202;  downhill  freer,  278; 
equalized  uphill,  288;  effect  on  in- 
cline, 292-293;  equalization  need- 
ed, 294. 

ADJUSTMENT  (of  balance) — Purpose 
of,  5;  general  effects,  6;  principles 
of,  88;  table  for,  92;  with  faulty 
gait,  157;  importance  of  hind,  171; 
unequal,  172;  nicety  of,  201;  main 
object,  205;  effect  of  previous, 
218;  primary  condition,  228;  toe 
and  angle,  243;  perfect,  245;  se- 
quence of,  259;  averaged  by  con- 
ditions, 280;*  tests  of  incline,  283; 
accurate  record  of,  302. 

ALLEN  WINTERS  (winner  of  first  Trot- 
ting Derby)— 310,  315. 

ALONE  (pacer) — Measurements  of,  70; 
compared  with  Lou  Dillon,  78,  81 ; 
action  of,  78;  shoeing  of,  80;  lat- 
eral extension  of,  82,  85. 

ANACONDA  (pacer) — At  speed,  264. 

ANALYSIS  (of  gait) — Of  motion,  40; 
requirements  of,  48,  71 ;  methodi- 
cal, 119;  main  purpose,  205. 

ANGLE — By  toe  and  heel,  06;  effect  on 
extension,  97;  pointing  of,  107; 
range  of,  107,  247;  of  dished  hoof, 
176,  179;  general  effect  on  exten- 


sion, 205;  length  of  hoof  and 
general  principles  of,  241 ;  fore 
respond  quickly  to,  250;  effect  on 
inclines,  282;  downhill  and 'uphill, 
292-293. 

ANKLES— Weak  hind,  189,  284;  shoeing 
for,  253,  285;  lack  of  suspension, 
179. 

ARTICULATION— Of  fore  and  hind;  at 
rest,  20;  in  motion,  173;  defini- 
tion, 91;  flexion,  202. 

ATTITUDES— Side :  ideal,  20;  faulty,  21- 
22;  Front:  ideal,  98;  faulty,  99- 
100;  consequence  of  faulty,  154. 

AVERAGE — Determines  faults,  4;  defini- 
tion, 5 ;  important,  40 ;  how  found, 
41. 

AXES— Of  motion,  97;  ideal,  98;  of 
foot,  101 ;  faulty,  102 ;  and  angle 
of  foot,  106;  of  fore  and  hind,  173. 

BALANCE — Definition,  2;  by  corrections 
of  gait,  10 ;  due  to  compensations, 
22;  experiments  necessary,  44; 
seen  in  tracks,  60;  by  symmetry  of 
motion,  86;  requisites  for,  87; 
Roberge's  rational  view,  88;  con- 
ditions of,  89;  lateral,  101-102; 
with  perfect  symmetry,  103 ;  car- 
riage of  head,  116;  folly  of  forc- 
ing, 117;  much  time  needed,  117; 
with  equalized  fore  and  hind  ac- 
tion, 121 ;  general  principles  of, 
138;  with  cast  shoe,  142;  by  higher 
hind  action,  201 ;  main  objects,  205; 
by  interrelation  of  legs,  206; 
guess-work  useless,  240;  lateral 
adjusted,  244;  not  permanent, 
245;  time  required,  260;  in  dis- 
order, 266;  downhill  test,  278; 
foundation  of,  280;  solution  of, 


316 


Index 


293',  gives  horse  confidence,  294; 
great  study  required  for,  314. 

BARS — Across  shoe,  114;  direction  by 
tilting,  131,  136;  on  one  hind,  134; 
at  heels,  155;  three  shoeings  with, 
221. 

BEAUTY — Of  axes  of  motion,  97;  with 
symmetry,  102;  suggests  efficiency, 
165. 

BERICO  (trotter) — Origin  of,  27. 

BETTING — A  drawback,  309. 

BODY — Center  of  gravity  in,  18,  20,  61 ; 
lengthening  of  and  strain,  187. 

BREAK-OVER — At  toe,  68;  at  least  re- 
sistance, 104;  with  squared  toes, 
193 ;  by  heel  calks,  201 ;  Lou  Dil- 
lon's, 204;  against  knee  hitting, 
249;  on  inclines,  282. 

BROOD-MARE — Care  of,  306. 

CALIFORNIA — As  a  producer  of  harness 
horses,  309. 

CALKS — Leverage  and  hold  of,  114;  on 
hind,  156,  158,  160,  162,  207,  209; 
as  checks  of  extension,  200,  276;  at 
toe,  256 ;  removed  from  hind,  257 ; 
for  action,  288. 

CENTER  OF  GRAVITY — Line  of  motion,  3; 
center  of  symmetry,  8;  location, 
18,  20;  point  of  reference,  19;  di- 
rection, 61 ;  shifting  at  turns,  128. 

CHARACTER — Evolution  of,  306. 

CHECK-LINE — Unnatural,  I ;  cruelty 
and  humane  use  of,  115. 

CLAY  (trotter) — In  motion,  33;  com- 
parative action,  167. 

COMPENSATIONS — Definition  and  im- 
portance, 16;  effects  of,  21,  in  Lou 
Dillon's  gait,  64;  deviations  from 
straight  line  at  trials,  81 ;  in  study 
of  gait,  91;  rule  of,  101-102;  caus- 
ing equilibrium,  293. 

CONCUSSION  (on  ground) — Absent  in 
easy  gait,  46;  due  to  angles  and 
quarters,  108;  of  outside  hind 
heel,  154;  from  lack  of  balance, 
240;  of  both  hind  heels,  249; 
double  imprint,  251. 


CONFORMATION— Table  of  notes  for,  93. 

CONTACT  (with  ground)— By  heel 
first,  107;  normal  appearance,  108; 
dilatory  with  hind,  124;  hard  with 
hind,  249;  marked  at  toe,  259; 
marked  at  heels,  270;  premature 
in  mixed  gait,  270. 

CORD  (white)— For  lateral  measure- 
ments; see  Median  Line. 

CORONET— Its  height,  95. 

CORRELATED  FEET— Definition,  12;  their 
equal  movements  in  trot,  13;  same 
in  pace,  14 ;  table  for  trot,  54 ;  dis- 
tances the  same,  55 ;  table  for  pace, 
77;  increased  by  stride,  132;  syn- 
chronous contact  of,  124;  dis- 
tances on  incline,  196;  distances 
equal,  205,  298;  distances  impor- 
tant, 262,  265;  positions  on 
ground,  268;  in  single-footing, 
273;  time-beats  of,  274;  table  for 
trot,  301.  . 

COW-HOCKED— Attitude,  100. 

CROSS-FIRING— Definition,  14;  explana- 
tion, 42. 

CROSSING  OVER  (of  fore)— Lou  Dillon, 
54;  in  overstep,  57;  tracks  given, 
63;  in  lateral  extension,  149;  over 
median  line,  153;  of  Sweet  Marie, 
205. 

CRUELTY— Of  check-line,  115;  abetted, 
313;  primeval,  314. 

CURB — Due  to  excessive  extension, 
248. 

CURVES — Of  motion,  25 ; .  deviations 
counteracted,  81 ;  of  action,  169- 
170;  with  flexion,  173;  duration  in 
fore  and  hind,  174;  of  knee  hit- 
ting, 176 ;  corrected  by  angles, 
183;  modified,  279-280. 

DECIMALS — Less  complex,  47;  reduced 
to  feet,  48. 

DEFECTS — Seen  in  tracks,  3;  shown  by 
averages,  5;  offset  by  compensa- 
tions, 103;  not  cured  by  force, 
172;  absolute  and  relative,  293. 

DISHED  TOE — Leverage,  176;  effect  on 
extension,  178. 


Index 


DISTANCES — Between  feet  generally, 
4;  of  opposites,  10,  48;  of  corre- 
lated feet,  54;  table  of  opposites, 
52;  of  correlated  in  pace,  77;  of 
opposites  in  pace,  75;  of  opposite 
pairs,  79;  between  hind  laterally, 
84;  table  of  opposite  and  corre- 
lated feet  in  trot,  296;  same  in 
pace,  299. 

DOWNHILL — A  test,  196,  294 ;  compared 
with  uphill,  278,  282 ;  with  short 
and  long  gait,  279;  general  effect 
in  gait,  292. 

DRAFT — Effect  on  hind  extension, 
187-188;  with  speed,  280. 

EDGERTON — See  Edgington. 

EDGINGTON,  ABE  (trotter) — In  motion, 
31;  under  saddle,  47-48;  com- 
parative action,  167;  suggestive  of 
improvements,  193. 

ELAINE  (trotter)— In  motion,  29; 
comparative  action,  167. 

EDUCATION  (of  horse) — Laborious, 
240;  for  usefulness,  305;  by  gen- 
tleness, 313. 

ELBOW — Free  in  motion,  98. 

ELEVATION — Of  feet,  22;  of  knee  and 
hock,  22 ;  shown  by  camera,  24 ; 
with  extension,  24;  due  to  bar 
shoe,  135;  fore  and  hind  com- 
pared, 167;  averages,  169;  effect 
of  weight,  172;  without  extension, 
163;  and  extension,  228. 

ENDURANCE — Result  of  smooth  gait,. 
39;  with  harmony  of  motiofl,  103. 

ENERGY — Most  efficient,  19 ;  lost  by  toe 
leverage,  89 ;  with  health,  307. 

EQUILIBRIUM — Of  foot  disturbed,  87; 
symmetrical,  102;  at  turns,  129; 
dependent  on  compensations,  293. 

EXAMINATION — Of  horse  by  table,  92. 

EXPERIMENTS — To  vary  one  thing  at  a 
time,  116,  260;  and  verifications, 
118;  take  time,  119;  suggestive  of 
remedies,  193;  main  object,  205; 
on  incline,  255;  downhill  pre- 
ferred, 278. 


EXTENSION— Equal  in  square  gait,  2, 
13;  averages,  5;  swing  of  legs,  19,. 
97,  229 ;  ideal,  20,  44 ;  and  elevation, 
25;  under  saddle,  38;  different  in 
opposite  legs,  41,  107;  diagonally, 
42;  and  stride,  50;  lateral,  60; 
from  median  line,  63;  table  of  lat- 
eral, 65 :  shortened  by  squared  toe, 
114;  errors  about  hind,  121;  un- 
equal swing  of  fore  and  hind,  123, 
175;  equalizing  of,  124;  with  left 
fore,  125;  effect  of  weight,  135, 
172;  results  of  lateral,  136-137;  by 
toe-weights,  142,  161 ;  double 
check  to,  155,  194;  action  and,  170, 
171,  194;  by  thicker  shoe,  163;  and 
unfolding  of  leg,  173;  and  dished 
toe,  179;  and  hopping  behind,  179; 
limit  of,  183;  comparative  lateral,, 
184;  excessive  in  one  hind,  185; 
on  one  side,  186 ;  with  unsound- 
ness,  190;  deficient  behind,  192; 
checked  by  squared  toes  and  calks, 
199;  and  "getting  away"  of  fore, 
203;  with  longer  hind  heels,  213,. 
235  5  °f  °ne  hind  excessive,  226, 
230;  dangerous  at  turns,  222; 
danger  of  excessive,  237;  incline, 
285-291;  downhill,  292;  uphill, 

293. 
EXTERIOR  OF  THE  HORSE  (book),  46. 

EXTREMITIES  (fore  and  hind) — Sepa- 
ration of:  not  increased  by  toe- 
weights,  150;  difficult  to  effect, 
155;.  short,  157;  increased,  177; 
decreased,  187;  greater  with  great- 
er stride,  182,  187;  rather  long, 
190;  by  backward  extension  of 
hind,  203;  variations  of,  231;  with 
lengths  of  toes,  246;  checked  by 
length  of  fore,  257;  abnormally 
small,  258;  downhill  and  uphill, 
281,  291 ;  properly  determined, 
295 ;  Relation  of :  compensations 
between,  100;  when  strides  differ,. 
252. 

FAULTS — Of  gait  seen  on  ground,  3; 
with  deviation  from  straight  line, 


Index 


10;  of  attitudes,  21,  22;  found  by 
analysis,  120;  unequal  adjustment 
for,  172;  less  visible  at  speed,  172; 
need  unequal  adjustment,  206;  ir- 
regular rhythm,  227,  236. 

FEET — Points  of  motion,  8;  direction, 
8,  10 ;  distance  laterally,  10;  one 
preceding  other,  41,  42;  position 
and  median  line,  60;  contact  with 
ground,  42,  240;  fall  of,  124;  gen- 
eral directions,  125;  elevation  at 
speed,  167,  169;  response  to 
changes,  250;  rhythm  of  contact, 
266;  positions  judged  by  eye,  295. 

FLEXION — Of  fore  and  hind,  22;  aids 
to,  166;  table,  167;  with  weight, 
202;  illustration,  173;  knee  and 
hock,  202. 

FORE  LEGS — Variations  from  stride,  50 ; 
one  ahead  of  other,  59;  flexion 
of,  202;  dangerous  extension,  222; 
"recovering,"  223;  check  to  speed 
236;  danger  of  inequality,  248; 
responsive  to  changes,  250;  like 
stilts,  256. 

FORGING — Due  to  weight  and  action, 
197- 

FROG — Distance  to  median  line,  62. 

GAIT— Square,  2;  standard,  26;  trot- 
ting and  pacing,  32;  exact  record 
of,  44;  causes  of  rough,  59;  low 
in  Alone:  85;  observations,  92; 
ideals  of,  115;  analysis  required, 
105,  119;  effect  of  saddle,  161 ; 
evolution  gradual,  181 ;  limit  of 
changes  in,  183;  weight  in  rapid 
and  sweeping,  202;  effective  toe 
leverage,  228;  primary  condition, 
228-229;  first  evidence  of  faulty, 
240;  regularity  and  variations, 
263;  trotting  and  pacing  illustrat- 
ed>  264-265;  evidence  of  mixed, 
269;  long  and  short  on  incline, 
279;  heredity  of,  311-312. 

GENERALIZATIONS — Based  on  experi- 
ments, 46;  results  of  experiments, 
118-119,  145;  applicable  to  all 
horses,  138. 


GROUND  SURFACE — Of  shoe,  212. 

GOUBAUX       AND       BARRIER— "The       Ex- 

terior  of  the  Horse,"  46. 

HANDICAPPING— As  a  variety,  308;  its 
benefits,  311. 

HARMONY— Between  fore  and  hind,  69, 
91;  due  to  paring,  90;  from  per- 
fect repose,  103;  of  action  by 
weight,  142;  lack  due  to  fore  and 
hind  stride,  198;  spoilt  by  exces- 
sive extension,  218;  in  calculations, 
275;  by  means  of  compensations, 
293. 

HARNESS  HORSE — and  thoroughbred, 
305>  309;  treatment  of,  313. 

HEAD— Free  with  easy  mouth,  115; 
part  of  balance,  116;  carried  to 
side,  148-149. 

HEEL— High  and  low,  6,  95;  relation 
to  toe,  95;  first  on  ground,  107; 
longer  on  one  hind,  146;  swelled, 
148;  outside  long,  153,  155,  158; 
invisible  on  ground,  155;  sliding 
of,  163,  179;  smooth  and  swelled, 
181,  232;  calks  and  squared  toes, 
199;  longer  vs.  thicker,  208;  longer 
hind,  211 ;  long  with  extension, 
218,  235;  high  with  squared  toe, 
228;  swelled  and  short,  231;  strik- 
ing of  hind,  233. 

HEREDITY— Factor  in  development,  i; 
improvement  of  gait  by,  311. 

HIND  LEG — Variation  from  stride,  50; 
increased  stride,  53;  longer  for 
turn,  147;  loose  articulation  of, 
166;  hopping  of,  179;  flexion  of, 
202;  as  a  propellor,  235. 

HOCK — Ideal  and  faulty  directions,  98- 
100;  flexion  compared  with  knee, 
167.  173;  average  elevation,  169; 
with  spavin,  185. 

HOCK  ACTION — Compared  with  knee 
action,  35-36;  effect  of  weight,  141 ; 
effect  of  knee  action  on,  157 ;  regu- 
lated by  weight,  165;  and  exten- 
sion, 201 ;  on  an  incline,  289. 

HOOF — Fitting  to  shoe,. 45;  Roberge  on 
shape,  45;  ever  growing,  87,  89; 


Index 


319 


axis  of,  joi ;  compensations  in, 
102-103;  a  growing  evil,  104,  147; 
shape  important,  109;  "wing"  re- 
moved, 154;  dished  front,  176;  of 
different  sizes,  206;  obstacle  of  bal- 
ance, 241 ;  section  of,  242;  after  re- 
moval of  shoe,  245 ;  danger  of  un- 
equal lengths  of,  248;  length 
checks  fore  extension,  256;  length 
on  incline,  292-293. 

HOOF  GAUGE — Application  of,  94; 
principles  of,  105-108;  versus  eye, 
163. 

HORSE  IN  MOTION  (book),  by  Dr.  Still- 
man,  1 8,  24,  26. 

HORSE — As  an  individual,  6;  each  has 
its  own  gait,  90;  notes  on  make- 
up of,  92;  developed  by  ideals, 
116;  complex  locomotion  of,  118; 
intelligence  and  service  of,  305; 
accused  of  cowardice,  312. 

IDEALS — Of  gait,  26;  not  merely  ideas, 
90. 

IDOLITA  (trotter)— At  speed,  264. 

IMMOBILITY — Of  fore,  166,  237,  250, 
264. 

IMPROVEMENT — Of  gait:  limitations, 
39J  183. 

INCLINE — Test  of  balance,  196,  278; 
both  ways  compared,  278-279. 

INTERFERENCE — Hind  with  fore  in  trot, 
ii ;  in  pace,  13;  cross-firing,  14; 
prevented,  23;  with  crossing  over 
of  fore,  67;  when  impossible,  68; 
at  turns,  126-127;  due  to  hind  ex- 
tension, 144;  reduced  by  angles, 
183;  due  to  flexion  and  action, 
203;  due  to  length  of  toes,  246- 
247. 

INTERRELATION — Of  legs,  51;  absence 
of,  67;  not  understood,  121 ;  af- 
fecting extension,  133;  with  action 
and  extension,  144;  affecting  bal- 
ance, 206;  affecting  one  leg,  231; 
contrary  effect  of,  214. 

INVESTIGATION — Its  value,  5;  on  even 
ground,  12;  aim  and  application, 
44;  table  for,  92;  must  be  free, 


118;  saves  time  and  money,  161; 
applies  to  all  cases,  240;  better 
than  forcing  balance,  255;  applic- 
able to  pacers,  260;  leads  to  cor- 
rections, 277. 

IRREGULARITY— Of  extension,  5,  125;  of 
gait,  6;  causes  of,  41;  found  by 
camera,  46. 

JOINTS — Faulty  directions  of,  98,  99, 
100. 

KINETOSCOPE— Suggested,  173. 

KINGMOND  (trotter) — At  speed,  264. 

KNEE — Directions,  98,  100;  action  due 
to  shoe,  165;  knee  and  hock  flex- 
ion compared,  167,  173;  average 
elevation,  169. 

KNEE  ACTION — Compared  with  hock 
action,  35-36;  effect  of  weight,  141; 
on  an  incline,  289. 

KNEE  HITTING — Effect  of  toe-weight, 
154;  due  to  vicious  curves,  176- 
177;  and  toeing  out,  183;  shoeing 
for,  248-249,  253. 

KNUCKLING — Of  hind,  189;  defective 
extension  by,  191;  rolling  motion, 
shoe  as  a  remedy,  253 ;  and  exten- 
sion, 255. 

LATERAL  BALANCE — Indicated  by  med- 
ian line,  62,  65 ;  of  hoof,  97 ;  fixed 
by  axis  of  foot,  101 ;  deficient, 
104;  adjusted  by  eye,  243-244; 
symmetry  of,  247. 

LATERAL  EXTENSION— Definition,  60  ; 
of  trot,  62;  table,  65;  illustration, 
67;  table  for  pace,  82;  due  to  atti- 
tudes, 100;  around  turns,  129; 
faults  of,  234;  incurable,  239; 
omitted,  295. 

LEGS — Functions  of  fore  and  hind,  23; 
crossing  of  fore,  16,  204;  motion 
of,  16;  extensions  of,  19;  inter- 
relation of,  51;  one  shorter,  120; 
action  of  hind,  121 ;  flexion  of  fore 
and  hind,  202;  one  longer,  247. 

LENGTH — Of  toe,  242,  247;  on  incline, 
289;  of  leg,  247;  inequality  dan- 
gerous, 248. 


320 


Index 


LEVERAGE — Of  toe  a  strain,  88;  energy 
expended,  89;  with  squared  toe 
and  high  heel,  228;  with  angles  on 
incline  282;  downhill  and  uphill, 
292-293. 

LINE  OF  SAFETY— Of  hoof  for  paring, 
88;  important  principle,  245. 

LINE  PACE — Ideal  and  actual,  13 ;  as  a 
standard,  15. 

LINE  TROT— Definition,  9;  ideal  and 
actual,  10;  axes  of,  97. 

LOCOMOTION — Hereditary  influence,  i ; 
on  incline,  6,  282;  complex,  116; 
difficulty  of  experiments,  Il8. 

LOST  MOTION — Due  to  curves,  15;  due 
to  lateral  extension,  100. 

LORD  DERBY  (trotter),  at  speed,  263. 

Lou  DILLON — Her  measurements,  48; 
lateral  extensions,  63,  67;  cross- 
ing of  fore,  54,  64;  shoeing  of, 
69;  action,  69;  compared  with 
Alone,  8 1 ;  at  turns,  130;  toe  lever- 
age, 204. 

MANUAL  BOOKS — Convenient  for  ana- 
ysis,  5;  set  forth  method,  86. 

MEASUREMENTS — General  outline,  3 ; 
table  for  trot,  47;  trotting  stride, 
49;  start  with  first  stride,  59; 
table  for  pace,  71;  pacing  stride, 
72;  explain  gait,  161;  finding 
"short  stride"  by,  223;  details  of 
proof  of,  274;  lead  to  balance, 
293;  main  features  of,  295;  of 
pace  reviewed,  302. 

MEDIAN  LINE— Idea  of,  3;  definition 
and  location,  8;  its  direction,  60; 
distances  of  tracks  from,  65;  and 
center  of  gravity,  61 ;  aid  to  lat- 
eral balance,  247;  and  relative 
positions  of  feet,  295,  302. 

METHOD  (of  analysis)— No  cure-all, 
44;  aid  to  locomotion,  86;  eye  un- 
reliable, 120;  changes  compared  by, 
181 ;  balance  effected  by,  193 ;  the 
eye  as  aid  of,  229;  abbreviated, 
295;  reliability  of,  304. 

METRICAL  SYSTEM— Easier  calculations 
by,  47- 


MORNING  STAR  (pacer) — At  speed,  265, 

MOTION — Referred  to  center  of  gravity,. 
8;  ideal,  16;  straight  lines  of,  19; 
swing  of  legs,  20,  229;  curves  of, 
25;  revealed  by  camera,  40;  of 
center  of  gravity,  61 ;  harmony  of, 
69;  principle  of  rocking,  in;  best 
with  free  head,  115;  fore  and  hind 
irregular  in,  120;  of  legs,  173; 
trotting,  264 ;  pacing,  265 ;  disturb- 
ed by  lack  of  compensations,  293. 

MOUTH — Rarely  good  and  often  spoilt, 
US- 

MUYBRIDGE,  E.  J. — His  work  at  Palo 
Alto  Farm,  18;  motion  pictures, 
40,  166;  great  value  of  photo- 
graphs, 171. 

NOTATION — Decimals  simpler,  4,  47;  re- 
duced to  feet,  48;  of  fractions,, 
296. 

'OCCIDENT  (trotter)— In  motion,  27; 
comparative  action,  167. 

OPPOSITE  FEET — Distances,  48;  table 
for  trot,  52;  table  for  pace,  75;  in 
mixed  gait,  272 ;  difference  in  ex- 
tension, 273;  table  of,  299. 

OPPOSITE  PAIRS  OF  FEET — Distances  in 
pace,  79. 

OVERSTEP — Definition,  10;  in  analysis, 
49;  increases  with  speed,  56; 
table  of  Lou  Dillon's,  57;  table 
for  trot,  58;  downhill  and  uphill, 
196;  key  to  irregular  gait,  297. 

PACE — Position  of  feet,  14;  around 
turns,  128;  inclination  to,  207; 
compared  with  single-foot,  269; 
time  beats  of,  274. 

PACER — In  motion,  34;  subject  to  same 
principles,  260;  not  as  useful  as 
trotter,  310. 

PADDLING — Attitude  for,  98,  99;  and 
heavier  shoe,  145;  effect  on  oppo- 
site foot,  222. 

PALO  ALTO  FAJ*M— Photographs,  18; 
pictures  of  horses  in  motion,  26; 
single-footing,  267;  trotting,  268. 


Index 


321 


PARING — To  line  of  safety,  88;  more 
important  than  shoe,  90;  to  count- 
eract growth,  94;  to  white  line, 
95;  when  shoeing,  104;  causes  bal- 
ance, 104-105;  shoeing  secondary 
to,  105,  259;  directs  lateral  ex- 
tension, 183-184;  directing  feet  by, 
234 ;  a  delicate  operation,  241,  243 ; 
exactness  wanted,  244. 

PASTERN — Angle  of  foot  determined 
by,  247. 

PENDULUM  SWING— Of  legs,  9;  equal- 
ity disturbed,  123;  due  to  good 
hock  action,  169;  illustrated,  264- 
265 ;  indicated  by  variations,  229. 

PLANES  OF  MOTION — Of  feet  and  cen- 
ter of  gravity,  61 ;  of  axes  of  legs, 
97;  of  hoof,  106.  . 

POINTING — Cause  of,  6;  in"  analysis  of 
gait,  18;  determined  by  attitudes, 
21,  22;  in  and  out,  66;  invariable 
rule  of,  80,  295;  caused  by  high 
quarters,  87;  value  of  theory,  88; 
unequal  between  opposite  legs,  107 ; 
indicated  by  shoes,  in;  of  hind 
extension,  125;  by  bars,  137;  by 
longer  toe,  179;  by  long  toe  and 
low  angle,  225 ;  by  paring,  234. 

POLES — Judicious  use  of,  149:  no  pla'ce 
in  races,  165;  balance  effected 
without,  183. 

PROPORTION — Between  speed,  long  toe 
and  energy,  89;  of  fore  and  hind 
action,  122;  of  elevation,  169. 

QUARTERS  (of  foot) — Symmetry  of, 
101 ;  directions  of,  102;  difficult  to 
balance,  243. 

RACING — The  bane  of  continuous,  309. 

RECORD  (of  gait) — On  ground,  12; 
must  be  kept,  44;  necessity  of  writ- 
ten, 89;  of  observations,  92;  busi- 
nesslike, 302.  • 

REMEDIES  (for  defects) — Should  be 
gradual,  108;  permanent  and  tem- 
porary, 120;  of  no  quick  effect, 
138;  limitations  of,  183;  for 
knuckling,  191 ;  for  knee  hitting, 


177;  temporary,  206;  not  always 
perfect  304. 

RIG  (or  harness) — Desirable  simpli- 
city of,  114;  when  objectionable, 
165. 

ROBERGE,  DAVID — His  theory  of  "point- 
ing," 18;  on  shape  of  hoof,  45; 
pointing  at  speed,  53,  76;  invari- 
able rule  of  pointing,  80;  on  high 
quarters  of  hoof,  87;  theory  and 
practice,  88;  on  extension,  97;  on 
perfect  balance,  103;  on  shape  of 
hoof  and  shoe,  109;  some  dis- 
crepancies in  experiments,  118;  on 
shoeing  as  a  science  and  an  art, 
244;  on  balance,  245. 

ROCKING  MOTION — Of  flesh-footed  ani- 
mals the  basis  of,  in;  principles 
of  the  shoe,  112-113;  the  Memphis 
shoe,  114;  for  strains,  207;  for 
action,  209;  with  eased  heels  be- 
hind, 252;  and  hock  action,  287. 

ROUGH  GAIT — Causes  of,  59;  due  to 
shorter  leg,  120;  regulated,  139; 
not  removed  by  speed,  172. 

RULES  (N.  T.  A.)— Lax  interpreta- 
tion of,  311. 

RUSSELL,  WILLIAM — Book  on  shoeing, 
45- 

RHYTHM  (of  gait)— Regularity  want- 
ed, 20;  disturbed,  227,  236;  as  an 
aid  to  balance,  266. 

SCALE — Of  diagrams,  151. 

SCORING — Unsatisfactory,  310. 

SHOE — Make  of,  45;  overrated,  88; 
perfect  plane  of,  104;  simplicity  of 
design,  105;  shape  of,  108;  con- 
tact with  ground,  108;  slipping  of, 
109;  shape  important,  109,  171; 
best  when  light,  109;  gait  steadied 
by  heavy,  no;  four  on  ground, 
no;  with  ground  surface  up,  in; 
rolling  motion,  111-113,  253;  Mem- 
phis, 114,  134,  219,  220;  modified 
rolling  motion,  114;  wider  web  of, 
155,  160;  action  due  to,  165;  with 
squared  toes,  193;  with  longer 
hind  heels,  211;  ground  surface  of, 
212;  thickness  of  web,  238. 


322 


Index 


SHOEING — Influence  of  previous,  44, 
138,  164;  art  and  science  of,  46, 
120,  244;  forced  method  of,  gi ; 
table  of  record  of,  93 ;  service- 
ableness  of,  105;  time  required  for 
testing,  116;  eye  unreliable  for, 
163;  creases,  "grabs"  and  calks, 
200;  analysis  required  for,  259;  by 
one  man  only,  260. 

SIDE  POLE — Use  of,  149. 

SIMPLICITY — Of  rig,  114;  suggests  effi- 
ciency, 165;  of  shoes,  171. 

SINGLE-FOOTING — In  irregular  trot,  55; 
causes  of,  59;  due  to  low  hind 
action,  155,  199;  suspicion  of,  158; 
known  by  rhythm,  266;  illustrated, 
267;  leg  action  independent  in, 
268;  time  beats  of,  271,  274;  with 
excessive  extension,  270. 

SIZE  (of  horse) — With  weight,  306; 
classification  by,  308;  usefulness 
of,  311. 

SLIDING,  SLIPPING — Absent  in  smooth 
gait,  46;  perfect  balance  shows  no, 
60;  bars  as  preventives  of,  114; 
marked  in  hind,  163 ;  of  hind  heels, 
179;  stopped  by  shoe,  200;  of  hind 
heels,  233. 

SOLE— Paring   of,   88. 

SONOMA  GIRL  (trotter) — At  rest,  103. 

SPAVIN — Effect  on  extension,  185; 
caused  by  unequal  extension,  248. 

SPEED — Dependent  on  balance,  I ;  by 
straight  lines,  19 ;  not  sole  criter- 
ion, 26;  and  the  long  toe  notion, 
89;  due  to  proper  changes,  147;  a 
gag  for  criticism,  164;  as  a  test 
of  strength,  280;  a  defective  stand- 
ard, 306,  308; 

SPEEDY-CUTTING — Definition  of,  n;  in- 
terference by,  42 ;  a  common  cause 
of,  188. 

SQUARE  GAIT — Definition  of,  2;  re- 
ferred to  center  of  gravity,  3; 
standard  conditions,  61 ;  spoilt  by 
excessive  variations,  189;  with  un- 
equal adjustment,  205; 

SQUARED  TOES — Influence  on  motion, 
89;  and  extension,  114;  of  shoes, 


j  193;  and  heel  calks,  199;  on  dia- 
gonal feet,  207,  216,  217;  on  one 
'  v  .side,  212,  215,  236;  with  longer 
'%oof  and  heels,  214;  on  hind,  216  \ 
•and  rqund  toes,  226;  general  effect 
of,  211,  227,  228;  with  high  heels, 
228. 

STANDARD  BRED  HORSE — Developed  by 
ideals,  116;  a  better  classification 
for,  306;  nondescript  at  present, 
308. 

STANFORD,  Gov.  LELAND — Palo  Afto 
Farm,  18. 

STIFLE — Free  motion  of,  99. 

STRIDE — Definition  of,  4;  same  for 
each  leg,  40,  50,  73;  average,  41; 
table  for  trot,  49;  difference  ber 
tween  fore  and  hind,  53,  74,  189, 
252,  255;  "shortness"  of,  50,  223, 
248;  of  pace,  72;  average,  73; 
"lengthening"  of,  123;  "shorten- 
ing" of,  124;  misnomer  for  ex- 
tension, 125;  variations  of,  140;  ef- 
fect on  separation  of  fore  and 
hind,  182,  187;  downhill  and  up- 
hill effects,  292-293. 

SWEET  MARIE — at  rest,  87;  at  speed, 
205. 

SWING  OF  LEGS — See  Pendulum. 

SYMMETRY — Of  motion,  86;  of  equilib- 
rium, 102;  as  a  part  of  balance, 
103;  of  lateral  balance,  247. 

TAPE  LINE — Its  use,  3-4;  in  trials,  46- 
47,  70,  296. 

TEETH — Good  condition  important,  115. 

TENDON  (swelled) — Effect  on  exten- 
sion, 185;  spoils  gait,  218;  caused 
by  check  to  extension,  222. 

TIME — Prime  condition  for  balance,  7, 
114,  260;  for  corrections,  44; 
changes  require,  116;  during  win- 
ter, 124;  with  confirmed  habits, 
157;  not  allowed,  192;  lack  of 
confuses  results,  149-150. 

TIME  BEATS — Of  gaits,  269. 

TOE— Effect  of  length,  6,  182;  break- 
over at,  67;  leverage  of,  89,  204; 
squared,  89;  notions  about  length, 


Index 


323 


89 ;  long  and  "high,"  94 ;  and  white 
line,  95;  angle 'with  heel,  95-96; 
where  break-over  is  easiest,  104; 
dished,  178,  206,  207,  209;  two 
longer,  180;  leverage  of  squared, 
207;  length  and  angle  vs.  "low" 
and  "high"  242;  its  power  of  pro- 
pulsion, 233;  length  over-rated, 
246;  lack  of  suspension,  250;  lev- 
erage on  incline,  283. 

TOEING  IN  AND  OUT — Found  by  track 
gauge,  66,  84;  effect  of  bars,  136- 
137;  effect  of  toe-weight,  160;  of 
fore,  194. 

TOE-WEIGHTS — And  greater  extension, 
142;  indirect  effect  on  hind  action, 
I5°>  !63;  no  improvement  on  total 
action,  150;  as  auxiliaries  to  bal- 
ance, 152;  on  near  fore,  156,  160; 
with  heavy  shoes,  161 ;  general  ef- 
fect, 164;  temporary  use,  165;  with 
rapid  and  long  action,  201 ;  down- 
hill and  uphill,  293. 

TRACK — Turns  of,  125-126;  turns  well 
taken,  129,  139,  161,  180,  199,  205; 
used  for  experiments,  193;  with 
inclines,  195-196;  suitability  of, 
294;  roughness  inexcusable,  280, 
294. 

TRACK  GAUGE — Description  of,  62;  ap- 
plication of,  63,  83. 

TRACKS  (of  feet) — Position  a  guid- 
ance, 3;  appearance  of,  43;  nature 
of,  46;  position  and  contact,  60; 
relation  to  median  line,  60;  posi- 
tions at  turns,  184;  important  evi- 
dence, 197-198;  distinctness  of, 
240;  of  gaits  compared,  275;  of 
trot,  296;  of  pace,  303. 

TRAJECTORY  (curve  of  motion) — Of 
feet,  25 ;  how  obtained,  26 ;  high 
by  weight  of  shoe,  no. 

TRIALS — Outline  of,  3;  preparation 
and  method  of,  12;  measure- 
ments of,  46;  around  turn,  126; 
straight  directions  of,  149;  on  in- 
cline, 195;  on  level,  196;  effect  of 
uphill,  255  ;*  downhill  and  uphill 
compared,  278. 


TROT — Basis  of  ideal,  8;  line  trot,  9; 
position  of  feet  in,  13;  its  require- 
ments, 48;  pace  compared  with 
trot  around  turns,  128;  and  single- 
footing,  269;  time  beats  of,  274. 

TROTTER — Versus  runner,  305;  quali- 
ties of,  306;  as  an  individual,  309; 
more  useful  than  pacer,  310. 

TROTTING  INSTINCT— Essential  for  bal- 
ance, i ;  hindered  by  defects,  154. 

TROTTING  REGISTER — Importance  of, 
307. 

UPHILL  TRIALS — Effect  of,  255;  com- 
pared with  downhill,  278,  282;  ef- 
fect on  long  and  short  gait,  279; 
general  effect  on  gait,  293. 

USEFULNESS — Must  be  considered  in 
trotter,  2;  spoilt  by  excessive 
front  action,  121 ;  a  plea  for,  305 ; 
improved  by  intelligence,  305;  the 
make-up  of,  307;  requires  sub- 
stance, 310. 

VARIATIONS— Of  stride,  41,  50;  in  fore 
and  hind,  50,  73;  from  average 
stride,  140;  difference  between 
fore  and  hind,  159;  least  in  best 
gait,  182,  188;  difference  on  in- 
cline, 195;  total  scope  of,  238; 
of  lateral  extensions,  239;  excess 
due  to  defects,  255;  in  mixed  gait, 
271;  affected  by  incline,  284,  289. 

VERIFICATIONS — Of  remedies  in  experi- 
ments, 118,  240. 

WEIGHT  (of  shoe) — General  effect,  6; 
over-rated,  90,  109,  259;  steadies 
gait,  no;  effect  on  extension,  135, 
136;  effect  on  fore  and  hind,  141, 
172;  effect  by  shape  of  shoe,  146; 
with  toe-weights,  162-163;  shape 
better  than,  171;  unequal,  172;  ef- 
fect on  motion,  174;  on  one  hind, 
175;  indirect  effect,  184,  206;  effect 
at  speed,  188;  unequal  behind,  190; 
changing  hind  action  to  extension, 
194;  greater  behind,  200;  with 
shape  of  hind  shoes,  201 ;  effect 


324 


Index 


in  rapid  and  long  gait,  202;  caus- 
ing single-footing,  270-271;  with 
smooth  shoes,  276;  general  effects 
on  incline,  289;  downhill  and  up- 
hill effects  of,  292-293. 


WEIGHT  (of  horse)— With  size,  306; 
required  for  usefulness,  308;  capa- 
city to  pull,  311. 

WHITE  LINE — Limit  of  paring,  88,  245 ; 
determines  'ength  of  toe,  95. 


HOME  USE 

CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 
MAIN  LIBRARY 

Renewals  and  recs  Remade  4  days  pru 


URC  ucri         JUL  2  5 


LD21-A30m-7,'73 

(R2275810)476— A-32 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


U 


